Closed Warmth Amidst the Gaslight. PV

16th October


There was much to look forward to during the weekend, this very Saturday, especially so. Family, Aurelia had countless. Those who were just initial and words to her, with names extended far beyond what sheets of paper could squeeze into. But rare were those familial members whom she shared cherished memories with, those who belonged close to heart. It had delighted the Gryffindor to know that one cousin, albeit sprouted quite a distance in the tree from the vines of the Bezuidenhout, was to study at Hogwarts. Ever unfortunate, the new school terms were not without their expected challenges. With the Ordinary Wizarding Level exams set and the full force of academics thrust upon her, Aurelia had found herself postponing their inevitable meet.

Instead, letters and an apology for her unavailability were exchanged for a period before Aurelia fell short to follow. Yet as time passed, a lone raven with feathers of obsidian, seeking warmth in the owlery amongst the fairer owls would serve as a rather peculiar reminder. Dearest Cousin, with the tip of one of her own feathers tipped with ink, she would soon write once more. It was not too long before the two had set to meet in the early afternoon of the upcoming Saturday on the second-floor corridors. Academics could wait a day, after all, she was in need of a well-deserved break.

Two and a half years was no doubt a long time. It seemed she had been too eager to finally reunite with her dear cousin that she had not taken by foot but by flight toward rendezvous. The large wingspan of her majestic animagi was not fit for such narrow hallways. Perhaps she could have contemplated utilising more patience. Because along the extensive corridors, when the boy she was so keen on finally meeting come into sight, it was far too short of a notice to glide to a stop or manoeuvre her flight trajectory to perch on the boy's shoulder. Instead, in a silent flight as owls like her species were known for, she would collide hard into the poor unsuspecting boy's skull.

Ouch.

Shortly, upon the impact, the tall boy would topple. The bird of prey too would lose their momentum falling onto the cold cobblestone floor. The collision had caused Aurelia to lose her animal form and regain back her other. This was unexpected. Despite the small bout of chaos, Aurelia still planned to retain her little secret. Or at least she hoped to still have control over that. Quickly rising to her feet and brushing herself off, she would stretch her arm out towards the raven-haired boy to assist him up. "Oh Draven, what on earth are you doing on the ground?" The girl's voice raised in question as she towered over the fallen boy, her shadow-like presence looming above like a dark cloud set to rain. Once the boy got up, Aurelia would extend one of her rare gestures of affection towards him: a hug.

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AURELIA NOTRÉSVACE | new poem! | x
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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
Closed Warmth Amidst the Gaslight. PV
──'how long is forever?' -'sometimes it's just one second'
outfit • #bold • wordcount • song──
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Đraven had accidentally torn a hole in the letter, folding and unfolding it so many times. The looping, elegant writing which stretched out over the parchment had faded - not from time. But from being read so many times. For in the near darkness of wandlight, while the Slytherin dorms were submerged underneath a silence as thick as a blanket, Draven had memorized the letter. The place. The time. The date. Even on his way up to the corridors, he'd read it over, as if fearing the words would have changed over night.

Now, he was fighting the urge to pull it out his pocket and double check again, just in case. He thought he was in the right place. But Hogwarts' twisting halls and changing staircases had fooled him many times, dangling the promise of early arrival right in front of his nose before snatching it away with a laugh. Truth was, school was a maze and he was the rat trapped inside it.

Five minutes had passed. Ten. Draven pulled the cloak tighter around himself. He could feel the book digging into his side from a pocket, practically begging him to pull it out. Flip open to where he'd left off. Do anything to cure the rising wave of twitchiness and anxiety. What if she'd changed? What if she'd hate him? What if she'd think him as childish or immature, or simply not worth her time?

It didn't take long to fall down that hole.

Draven made to leave. The fluttering, twitching thing struggling inside his ribcage would be appeased if he disappeared down the corridor. And that mattered more than standing around for a girl who wouldn't show. But no sooner had he stepped away from his waiting spot that something crashed into him, sending him stumbling forwards. He slipped, boots catching on a raised stone ledge.

Draven's stomach dropped to his toes as he tipped forward, colliding with the floor.

Pain.

It exploded against his palms and knees as skin tore, blood blooming against the ancient tiles, painting the hallway floor red. "I tensed up" he groaned, squeezing his eyes shut. Intellectually, he knew wiping the blood away on the expensive cloak his father had bought him wasn't a good idea. But boy, would it have felt better. Would have certainly made it easier to blink away the tears which had sprung up in his eyes, turning the corridor into a black and gray blur.

Something heavy and warm had rammed into him. And judging from the great deal of flapping about which followed afterwards, it couldn't have been something intelligent. He'd have some explaining to do going in the boy's dorm with the massive bruise already feel darkening on his skin.

This was the exact moment Aurelia decided to show up. Looming over him in all her glory, an arm stretched out in assistance. Of course she would. The thirty seconds in which Dray would look incredibly undignified is when she chose to make an appearance.

Draven ignored her arm, struggling to his feet instead. Great first impressions usually didn't involve spilling blood on someone else. "Sorry, sorry." he winced shoving his hands in his pockets to hide the crimson trickling down to the center of his palm. "This massive....something....just rammed into me. I don't-"

Of course, the culprit was nowhere in sight. "Sorry...." He couldn't even shake her hand now. "It's good to see you, Ms. Notrésvace" he sighed. "Truly, it's been too lon-."

There weren't many situations that could render Draven speechless. Meeting the Minister? Not a problem. Having to tag along with his father at charity events and balls? No issue.

But being pulled into a hug, especially by someone he hadn't seen in years? The thing inside his chest simply stopped working. He'd frozen, entire body stiffening up underneath her arms, grief hitting him like a truck. She used the same perfume as Iris.

Memories he'd worked hard at keeping buried were threatening to resurface with each second she held him, tearing away years of repression. "I don't like being touched." he said in a strained voice, gently but firmly pulling away from her grasp. "Sorry. It's not a personal thing."

He put a foot of distance between them. And then another. "Still, it's good to see you. You're looking lovely, as always."
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@Aurelia Notrésvace

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ITS STILL RAINING. WHY IS IT STILL RAINING?
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Closed Warmth Amidst the Gaslight. PV
Subtle refusal was met when she had offered to help him up. Both of the young boy's hands were very swiftly tucked into his sides, obscuring them away from view. To know that the younger was very keen on hiding his own pain sent forth a turmoil of guilt that nestled uncomfortably in her gut. There was once when darkness threatened to devour her mind, she was entirely determined to acquire one of the unforgivable curses. The dark times were surmounted eventually with the help of a few who aided in replenishing the lights that were on the brink of flickering off. It was all history and not a part of her wished pain upon her cousin. Yet she would not admit fault, continuing her little charades.

Letting out a chuckle, with Draven in her arms, she muttered under her breath, "I would say you tripped and fell?" Brows would furrow in concern when Draven was unresponsive to the display of kinda affection, his body stiff. Loosening her grasp as he lightly pushed her away, Draven then distanced himself from her. Not too long ago, the Gryffindor may have been as deterred from physical contact as Draven was now. After she was grabbed forcefully, bitten and nearly drained white to death of blood, it took quite some time to recover from the stubborn abhorrent trauma that lingered on after the attack. Aurelia understood.

The causation of this reaction was a different kind of trauma, one she also experienced before. The loss of a love and the sunder of a family. Or at least, that she assumed. If eyes were the window to the soul, Draven's was a pouring abyss of heart-rending emotions. Solemnly, with the corner of her lips pulled up subtly in an empathetic smile, she would nod in understanding. "That's alright, Draven. If you need someone to talk to, I am a letter away."

Fortunately, Aurelia refused to let the austere atmosphere remain. With a pout, she would taunt with a gasp of feigned disbelief. "You were short of a head in height the last I saw you." Truly, how did the male kind get such a spurt in growth? Even Heinrich made her feel small in a mere half of a school term. "Hands, please. You are hurt. Nothing magic can't fix, I insist." It was not a question but a demand. With her wand drawn from her side, the fifth-year offered to heal. There were no denying injuries as the crimson on the near ground would suggest otherwise.

──────────────
AURELIA NOTRÉSVACE | new poem! | x
──────────────
“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
Closed Warmth Amidst the Gaslight. PV
──'how d a re you' -'it's not that hard'
outfit • #bold • wordcount 519 • song──
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
──
𝕴 did not fall," Draven hissed, shame crawling up his throat, caressing the boy's pale skin with hot fingers and leaving a pink trail behind. "Something s h o v e d me. And there is no way you DIDN'T see it, considering you were by my side a moment la-...." Draven's eyes narrowed in Aurelia's direction. He'd spoken before thinking, but as the words dripped from his lips and took shape in the air, they started to make sense.

Aurelia had seen it. But what reason did she have to lie? Had she tossed something at him? But no. Judging from the thin droplets of blood bleeding down his neck, whatever it was had been sharp. It hadn't carried enough momentum to hurt him for real. Which meant it hadn't been hurled. Which meant it had tried to brace. Something living, maybe? But the flapping sounds had stopped as soon as he'd been sent down to the ground. And there was no creature flying or scurrying away afterwards. A winged ball maybe? But whatever had hit him was much larger than a ball, and he would have heard it rolling away. Plus, balls weren't usually warm and...fluffy.

Draven's attention returned to Aurelia. Aurelia, who was lying, for no observable reason. Unless...

"I wouldn't want to bore you" he said easily, striding forward. "Plus, I may offend Dr. Finnick, who is getting paid good money to fix the crazy. And my father, who is doing the paying." He pulled his hands out of his pockets, a little bit hesitantly at first. A foolish, prideful thing to refuse the help. Especially since he couldn't help himself. "Don't laugh at me" he warned, unclenching his fists.

The skin was scrapped raw, little divots in the castle floor having torn at his palms and kept some of Draven as a memory. He'd slid forward on impact, and blood was flowing freely down the center of his palm. In books, heroes were able to brush off an injury like this. But Draven was not in fact, a main character. He was made out of flesh and bones, not paper and ink. And unlike the heroes in his books, he had to hold a quill come morning. "Thank you." he murmured, as the wound reknit before his eyes. It stung, but after a while the pain faded into an impression, leaving nothing behind but a shadow on the heel of his hand.

"And I apologize in advance" They were near a balustrade. It wasn't stone walls that encroached them on both sides, but a silent fifty foot drop all the way to the main floor all along the left side of the hall. It didn't take much force from Draven's side to shove her over. Only the tip of his boot swiping her heels from under her, and the barest hint of pressure on her shoulder, sending her stumbling backwards. Over the edge.

Draven had his wand out the next second, watching anxiously. He'd send a flying charm in her direction, was anything to happen. But there was something telling him that nothing would.
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@Aurelia Notrésvace

MISC LINKS
glass code | tools
ITS STILL RAINING. WHY IS IT STILL RAINING?
sta • 13 | eva • 8 | str • 1 | wis • 15 |arc • 7 | acc • 9
MAIN STORY
draven | jokia
Closed Warmth Amidst the Gaslight. PV
Nasty met the eyes, the scrapes of red open wounds on his palms. Aurelia had seen worse, but that didn't stifle the guilt she felt at the sight of his mishaps. To deny him the truth and call fault on the twelve-year-old's own imagination was rather duplicitous of the fifth year. But continue she would with her own little games, intent that her guise remained furtive. A wave of the cherry wood wand and the utter of an incantation sealed the skin and selfishly enough, brought some ease to the remorse laying on the surface of her conscience.

Meeting his eyes, a gentle, serene smile formed, one so nurturing and very contrary to the intimidating reputation she carried. Years it was since they met, how close they once were as children, meeting as frequently as every fortnight for playdates at the Mirador manor. Raphael. When those perished ones still breathed the same, when families were tight, strong and calm. Iris. Now to meet as if it had not been but a day's passing. However, the moment of reminiscence was only temporary.

Apologize? Barely a second of mercy did Aurelia have to register his words before she flew. Not with her majestic span of wings that came with her form but in an ungrateful turmoil as a human down the stories of the building. A sharp cry she let as the momentum of sheer gravity took her. The first instinct would be to scream, a magnet of attention attracting the students below that was most likely readying their wands in an attempt to save the random damsel in distress from her downfall.

Amato Animo Animato Animagus. A lengthy incantation that was a challenge enough to recite in her head. Poof. The girl no more, but a bundle of dark tawny brown. So close to the ground, but the gush of winter's wind would hit, sending her smashing through a (fortunately empty) classroom window right on the second floor. The sounds would entail nothing short of chaos.

Shaking off the pieces of glass from her feathers, Owleia, stood unsteady on her talons, still dizzy from her fall. Cooing in dissatisfaction. Draven pushed. He had pushed her down from the seventh floor. What ever psychopathic tendencies had the young man developed through the years of solitude? Although relatively unscathed, the bird of prey did not appreciate such a gesture and no doubt was Draven to be told off. Extending her wings again, Owleia took off up the near stairwell to find the boy again. It is best you run while you can, poetry boy.

──────────────
AURELIA NOTRÉSVACE | new poem! | x
──────────────
“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
Closed Warmth Amidst the Gaslight. PV
──'how d a re you' -'it's not that hard'
outfit • #bold • wordcount 519 • song──
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
──
𝕯raven's heart lurched as he watched Aurelia tumble downwards from the balcony, wand clutched anxiously in a bone white grip. The incantation was on his lips, having begun to murmur the words to it. Magic was like a prayer. An offering to the world, as he bowed his head and whispered along with the lyrics to an ancient tune, that many other wizards before him had said in a time of need.

Even now, while he watched his sister's friend rushing towards the ground, the jagged cliffs at the bottom of the castle extended greedily towards her, demanding a sacrifice. Even now, he relied on it. But he didn't need to. For before he could finish the prayer, the chant, the words to the poem that tied him to the castle and other wizards, Aurelia flew.

And what was a simple levitation charm in the face of raw skill? The girl's body changed. Limbs shrinking, hair disappearing. Replaced by tawny feathers and wickedly sharp talons. She'd crashed, it was true. Went barreling through one of the castle windows, her tiny body bracing against the glass. But she was alive without him lifting a finger.

Draven watched the girl with somber satisfaction. He could feel her rage. Reverberating through the walls, crawling towards him as Aurelia's golden eyes searched the halls. It was almost like it had been. Back in another life, in another world. When the rooms of the Mirador manor had been decked out in paintings, and the laughter of two teen girls floated amongst the breeze. Memories were all that remained now. Memories of them chasing after him, after he'd made a particularly insolent remark or spilled juice on their dresses.

It had been all in good fun. Or at least, that's what Dray had thought. Hoped. Draven hadn't noticed the change at first. It had been little things. She seemed angrier. Scarier. The air around her filled with a tension Iris had chosen not to acknowledge. She'd snapped easier. Her words had held just a little more venom, a little more bite to them than usual. It was on the day he'd felt chills crawl up his spine, that Dray had stopped bothering them.

But years had passed, and the nearly animalistic fear of her that had filled him back then had been placed on the back burner. He waited for her. Didn't move an inch, leaning against the wall.

"You're a terrible liar" Draven said quietly, holding the girl's gaze. "And I hope that hurt." She'd skipped the funeral. She'd skipped out on the last year of Iris' life. She'd gone from being over at the Mirador Manor so often the house elves had learned her footsteps and the gargoyles had come up with nicknames from her, to being a stranger. If it wasn't for her letters, Draven wouldn't have recognized her.
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@Aurelia Notrésvace

MISC LINKS
glass code | tools
ITS STILL RAINING. WHY IS IT STILL RAINING?
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Closed Warmth Amidst the Gaslight. PV
The push had been uncalled for. Granted, she had played Draven with short games of deceit and called fault onto his own imagination, but was not enough of a reason that throwing someone out of the window was to be justified. Spending much time at the Mirador manor in the years of childhood, Aurelia knew Draven to be a prankster, but this might have been a tad bit too far. What if she hadn't turned fast enough, what if the ground below claimed her before any kind of magic could come to her rescue?

The wide wings of her form was a few inches from taking up the entire width of the narrow corridors. That was what Draven would see coming towards him, with seemingly not the slightest intentions of halting. Expecting him to turn tail, but impressively, he stood his ground stubbornly. Golden eyes fiercely glaring sought to take vengeance upon the boy. Then bracing, like an (american) football propelled at full force, her form struck Draven square in the chest again. A cloud of long, brown feathers spaying outwards on impact.

"Oh Draven, what on earth are you doing on the ground?" The Slytherin would find that Aurelia had regained back her human form, standing tall over his fallen stature. The presence, all so terrifying, settled back to taunt the boy.

──────────────
AURELIA NOTRÉSVACE | new poem! | x
──────────────
“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
Closed Warmth Amidst the Gaslight. PV
──'how d a re you' -'it's not that hard'
outfit • #bold • wordcount 242 • song──
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
──
"𝖄ou're awful." Draven hissed, picking himself up off the floor for the second time that day. And judging from his companion's current disposition, probably not for the last time. "I had my wand ready in case I was wrong. Which I wasn't, by the way." The glare he gave her could have wilted plants. Perhaps he should have been a bit more apologetic considering he'd nearly killed her...however he couldn't say he felt particularly remorseful, especially considering the blood which was once again staining his coat.

Rubbing the center of his chest, where Aurelia had hit him full force with the vengeance of an offended banshee, he straightened his tie. Only fifteen minutes had passed since he'd seen her face to face, and someone had already nearly died, he was bleeding, and four years worth of secrets had suddenly come to light. You could say whatever you wanted about Draven Mirador and Aurelia Notrésvace, but they sure had a flair for the dramatic.

Draven sighed, picking his book up from the floor. The pages has bent, something he took the chance to glare at Aurelia for while he carefully bent them in the other direction, trying to get the wrinkles out of the pages. "Now that the small talk is over and done with," he scowled, "You were going to show me around Hogwarts?"
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@Aurelia Notrésvace

MISC LINKS
glass code | tools
ITS STILL RAINING. WHY IS IT STILL RAINING?
sta • 13 | eva • 8 | str • 1 | wis • 15 |arc • 7 | acc • 9
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draven | jokia
Closed Warmth Amidst the Gaslight. PV
Indeed she was terrible. Just like Draven, she felt bad, but not nearly bad enough to bestow a deserving apology. Draven pushed her down, regardless. And for that, he did not deserve an apology, rather, a lesson that came in the form of a massive throw of an owl. " Although confidence in your spellcasting is admirable. I have doubts that you would have managed to save me from such a fall." Draven was only months into his first year, after all.

However, she had thought Draven would be more interested in her animagus status now so much that he'd pushed her out of a window to force her into transition. But she hadn't seen him in half a decade, they surely had more things to catch up about. Perhaps she should show him around first, they needed some time to calm down after their most recent dispute. "The room of requirement. Have you found it yet?" She asked. It took her almost a year to finally stumble upon the room, if only someone would have told her about it. "There is a trick to finding it. Consider it a secret that most already know. " She stated, walking along.

──────────────
AURELIA NOTRÉSVACE | new poem! | x
──────────────
“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
Closed Warmth Amidst the Gaslight. PV
──'how d a re you' -'it's not that hard'
outfit • #bold • wordcount 242 • song──
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
──
"𝖄ou underestimate me," Draven said sharply, tucking the book back beneath his coat. The tension between the wixes crackled, neither of them backing down nor looking away. Purebloods were often as such, too dignified for their own good. Draven scowled, putting his wand away.

"I haven't found it, n0." He supposed he'd never had a desperate enough need for it, although he'd tried it many times, pacing the corridor and hoping the door would show up in a shadow, reveal itself if he looked away and looked back enough times. Yet, it had never shown itself to him. It felt like a personal failure if nothing else, despite the knowledge that it had nothing to do with his magical proficiency. "My dorm is often peaceful enough that I have no need for it," he mused, a smile flickering across his features at the thought of Cain tucked in his corner, fingers pressed between the pages of some book or other, brows furrowed in concentration. He'd grown quite fond of his roommate, despite them not having talked in a while.

"Lead the way,"
he said, turning to Auri. Anger licked at the edges of his lungs, for lying and for being gone. Perhaps that's why he'd pushed her. Maybe he'd wanted her to hit the pavement. Maybe Auri should have been dead instead of Iris. Perhaps they'd never know.
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────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@Aurelia Notrésvace

MISC LINKS
glass code | tools
ITS STILL RAINING. WHY IS IT STILL RAINING?
sta • 13 | eva • 8 | str • 1 | wis • 15 |arc • 7 | acc • 9
MAIN STORY
draven | jokia