20 Oct 2021, 11:27
Runic Run-ins
October 8, sometime during the day
Interacting: @Aurelia Notrésvace
English | Mandarin | French | Quotes
Hui Ming was the epitome of a studious boy. The kind with rich parents and not too many friends.
His immaculate clothes and tidy hair were the first tell-tale sign of his nature, not a hair out of place. The piles of books upon his table were the second. Come October, half the school was abuzz with excitement - the upcoming ball, the visiting international schools, or getting into the Halloween spirit generally – but Hui Ming could be found here every day like clockwork, seemingly removed from the student body, and engrossed in his books. Given the sheer dogged nature of his pursuit of academics, many who did not know better might have thought him better-suited to be clad in the blue of the Eagles rather than the emerald scales of the Snakes. Except... it was not his schoolwork that was keeping him here for long hours, for even the most zealous professors ran out of assignments to give to the students some time.
Instead, Hui Ming was kept busy with his own little pet projects. Sometimes it was his Muggle-world studies, ones that he kept up with despite the advice of Professor Galim. Sometimes it was ‘light’ reading – varying from history books to children’s storybooks to even newspapers. Today, oddly enough, the first year sat on a large table big enough for three, with half a dozen books splayed open in seemingly random pages.
A quick glance was sufficient to say that the books were on Egyptian and Younger Futhark runes, with several dictionaries, opened to seemingly random pages. That Ancient Runes was not a subject intended for first-years did not seem to bother the Chinese boy who sat working quietly, taking extensive notes on his notepad. Every so often, he would look up to read several lines from one of several books. His brows would then furrow in concentration as he made references to the translation chart. He might then look up something in one of the other books, before going back to his extensive note-taking.
One time though, his look frown worsened upon checking the reference books to a look of confusion. He would look back to one book, read a line, before looking over to another book. And repeat, his confusion seeming to only increase each time until finally, he slammed the books shut.
A deep breath, and the frustration drained away. As if the momentary flare-up had not happened at all.
Ming had been working on the self-defence event he had been moderating, the one masquerading as a duelling event for first years. Slowly, he planned to make the events diverge away from traditional duelling and into novel situations that would encourage planning, quick-thinking, and trust in the face of the unknown – all attributes he thought critical to survival here in this deathtrap school. So, when he had heard of runes and their ability to ‘hold’ and ‘trigger’ spells, he had jumped at the chance to incorporate it into his event.
Needless to say, he was not having much luck.
Storing spells, repeatable activations, and combining runes were all far more ridiculously complicated than he had anticipated.
Slowly, the Slytherin boy got to his feet. Perhaps he would have better luck with the Norse Runes? Mayhaps he could even try and get something functional without having to merge the languages as he seemed to require with the Egyptian ones.
With some reluctance, the first-year headed back towards the runes section. Intent to try and find something useful in this garbled mess of language, alliterations, metaphors and symbology.
And that was when his eyes landed upon her. All thought of the imminent danger and grand plans of a defence movement forgotten,
Now, Ming was hardly the kind to be swayed by looks - had he not lambasted the student body only the previous month in front of his house-mates, accusing the thoughtless, hormone-addled minds to hide behind magics and glamorous to trick the senses and obtain undue advantages?
But there was…. something about this one that drew him in. It was not the clothes, which were ordinary. Neither was it the glasses. But there was something there that drew the eye and refused to let go. It was difficult to quite describe the sensation. But it could hardly be called normal, and that left the first-year intrigued.
“I beg your pardon,” he found himself saying. Wait. When had he approached this girl? Wasn’t he supposed to be doing something else? He could have sworn he had important things to get done. His thoughts were disconnected from his actions, though, and he proceeded to address the unknown person. “I….uh. Don’t believe I’ve seen you around here before."
Last edited by Fang Hui-Ming on 13 Feb 2022, 05:17, edited 1 time in total.
The curtains fell. And the silence was deafening
9 Nov 2021, 02:10
Runic Run-ins
Aurelia, Leia and an owl whom her betrothed had given a pet name, Ori, ironically. Two of which were identities she drafted and posted over her own conscience character. One more conspicuous than the other, naturally in the form of a raptor. She would admit she had more out of touch with true genuine self, by the months. Funny, Aurelia, didn't feel too comfortable anymore in her own skin in school than she did at home. Each time when she was genuine herself, when she was not playing charades, when she wore her usual clothes and make up of shadowed lids, there was an odd strange unsettling feeling that those judgmental glares of the school were on her. Thoughts of evident insecurity that nagged her at the back of her mind that she would often push down.
Wearing her masks, Leia and her owl form provided her with much ease, albeit temporary. In fact, she relished when she played on her deceit and manipulations, even if it was all so subtle. But someone more socially wiser would know that it was not healthy to pretend one was something they were not for too long, Aurelia, as fifteen-year-old, she would not bother too much about it. It was another day that she had curated the bookish facade of Leia Nores, for the most part, outside of class, she would cover the span of halls as an owl, biting anyone who tried to pet her. Not every animal was the epitome of a Disney animal. But after lunch, Aurelia had decided that a trip to the library was long due. Regardless of which identity she played, she was still a student that would fail if she ignored her studies.
Transfiguration and Runes were the books in front of her. Ever so often, she would lift a finger to push her wide-set glasses back into place. However, her peace and quiet would soon be broken. Another boy. Whatever it was about pretty people that drew attention. However, Aurelia had an unexpected asset, her looks contrasted her presence that would often unsettle. Aurelia was very aware of that. She was like a flame. And the boy before her may as well be a moth. Nevertheless, it was an opportunity, right in front of her to make some acquaintances.
Lifting her gaze from the thick book, she would readjust her glasses again. Cue Leia Nores. A cordial smile formed on her pretty visage. "I don't spend as much time in the library as I should," Aurelia admitted, her accent purposefully eased to lose some of the cultured formality she grew up on. "Do you need help with anything?" A question that was structured to question his own reasoning for appearing before her. Of course, Aurelia knew that a moth did not need any ration to approach the flame. "Leia Nores, by the way."
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“One can never be too careful,” STM — 5 | EVA — 19 | STR — 5 | WSD — 12 | ARC — 5 | ACC — 9 |
Lovely Creature — Evasive Manoeuvres — Monster Hunter — Terrible Presence
8 Dec 2021, 11:05
Runic Run-ins
Interacting: @Aurelia Notrésvace
English | Mandarin | French | Quotes
There was that familiar feeling at the back of his neck that he got sometimes when he was around certain upperclassmen. A deep unease, a restlessness. With Dmitri Jones, Ming had put that feeling off to anxiousness. A desire to create a positive impression. His need to stay away from the loud, rambunctious populace of Hogwarts.
Here though…
In his distraction, it took him a moment to realize that she had stopped talking. But. For the life of him, he had no idea what she had just said.
Hui Ming cleared his throat, trying to get a grip on himself. For some reason or the other, he always seemed to make a fool of himself around seniors. Well, when in doubt-
“I’m Hui Ming, first-year Slytherin,” the boy said slowly, in his posh London accent. It amused him to play that little game sometimes: to observe how people reacted to his accent. Generally, those without a magical heritage thought him well-born, while those who had had a more conservative magical upbringing mistook him from a family of well-to-do pureblood merchants. Of course, there were always those who did not take any notice of his accent at all, but he had other ways of dealing with those. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss.”
What now? Why had he approached her, anyway?
The boy needed to play for time. “I was looking for the best way to erect a rune-activated magical shield, and I was making limited progress. Something tough enough to withstand a constant assault by 10 or so first years seems to have been rather difficult to uncover. Regardless,” and here the first year would look the girl over properly. He did not see any signs of a school crest to place the girl. Nor any of the family crests that the purebloods were so proud of showing off. “I was just on my way to look for some more reading when I saw you.”
HALT. WAIT. What. Back up, too much information, Hui Ming.
Almost smoothly, as if that misstep was all but intentional, the boy continued. “I haven’t quite seen you around here before, Miss. I’ve been around here rather often. And new faces make me rather…. concerned.”
It was a poor recovery, but his conversational skills had never been where he needed them to be.
A small, awkward pause. “Anyway. I felt the need to come over here and introduce myself. So I did”
The curtains fell. And the silence was deafening