15 Dec 2021, 21:12
Ambitious Winds
On this particular Monday, Aaron decided to eat breakfast down by the lake. He did that from time to time because it was just a nice change of scenery. He made a breakfast sandwich and grabbed some other portable items - fruit and such - in the Great Hall, then headed outside and walked to the lake. He took a seat against one of the trees that was still clinging to its autumn-colored leaves, and promptly started eating. His brown eyes watched the surface of the lake and took in the birds in the distance, enjoying his peace in that moment. There were some winds making him shiver in his school robes, but it definitely wasn't unbearable.Monday | 8 November 2021 | breakfast time
He didn't notice Chae-rin approaching from the castle because he was facing the lake. It wasn't until she had dropped a letter beside him that he realized she was there. She hooted softly as he looked up. Seeing his white-feathered owl perched on a branch above him made Aaron smile, though he was still chewing a bit of his breakfast sandwich. Before he could swallow and greet her, a large gust came through and the letter was suddenly taking off across the grounds, carried by the ambitious winds.
Aaron's eyes immediately widened, but Chae took off after it before he could even get to his feet. Still, the Hufflepuff wasn't far behind, jogging after the letter and his owl. He saw a familiar figure in the distance, right about where the letter had landed. Rather than taking the letter from the girl - whom Aaron now recognized as Dealla Prince - Chae-rin landed on a tree that was right beside her, keeping her yellow eyes trained on Aaron as he approached.
"Hey, Dee," Aaron said, a grin on his lips as he walked up to her. "Good morning! I see you used the wind to steal my letter," he joked, his voice turning accusatory though his expression remained light-hearted.
@Dealla Prince
Aaron has a Calming Presence.Your presence simply puts others at ease, if it is your carefree personality or the trust others have in you, the result is still the same. With you there, perhaps through your encouragement, your allies are able to better focus.
PC: Aaron Jones | iNPC: Madeleine Nakamura | Former staff account: Marcus Iwasaki
2nd Gen PC: Idalia della Torre
Best way to contact me? Discord or owl Idalia
30 Jan 2022, 21:15
Ambitious Winds
It was an unusual morning for Dealla Prince. First, she was up and out on the grounds early, rather than cutting it close with getting up and taking the stairs three steps at a time so she could manage to scarf down some breakfast before classes started. There was no food in sight, either, her appetite low. Second, she was on her own, no friends or acquaintances or even strangers found near her. In fact, she had taken care to avoid the other few figures strewn across the grounds, and slowly meandered over to the lake instead.
Third, there was a grumpy scowl on her face, and she was staring out at the lake with a grim expression that may have even scared away some of the crows on a nearby tree.
Although, the latter wasn't all that unusual lately. Contrary to her normally sunny disposition, her mood hat been steadily deteriorating since summer, and that frown was found on her face more and more often. Like this morning. She couldn't even explain why except that perhaps she had spent too many solitary hours in the duelling club or studying, and she missed her friends. Oh, and then there was the thing with her dad. And her grandparents. But none of that was a specific reason for her to spread gloom and doom around her like a cloud as she sat on the cold ground next to the lake. The less-than-perfect potion she had brewed in class last week had certainly outlived its usefulness as an excuse to glare daggers at people.
Something moved at the edge of her vision, fluttery and white, and Dealla turned her head just in time for the letter to hit her full in the face. She blinked, momentarily too surprised to keep up the scowl, then picked up the letter that had fallen into her lap.
The letter. The scowl returned. How dared people get letters when she hadn't heard from her father since July-
Thankfully, the letter's owner came to fetch it before she could do something impulsive like maybe throw it into the lake, and Dealla looked up, her lips pressed together, ready to snap at the accusation. "I didn't steal..." Her heated words trailed off as she recognised her friend. "Oh. Hi, Aaron." She held the letter out to him without needing to be prompted, and tried to scowl a little less. She would have tried for a smile, but that would likely have turned into a grimace, so she went for something more honest. It was somehow hard to snap at the Hufflepuff. "You're out here early." Even she could hear the grumpiness in her own voice. She supposed this was how unlikable people acted.
@Aaron Jones
"One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar."
2 Feb 2022, 18:08
Ambitious Winds
Aaron's smile fell to a more neutral expression when he registered the look on Dealla's face. She seemed upset, if he was reading her correctly. The fact that she had almost snapped about the whole stealing joke was enough to support this theory. He accepted the letter when she handed it to him, "Thanks." He glanced down at it and recognized his mother's handwriting immediately. He made a small face of his own, slight anxiety creeping up on him as he thought about the possible contents, but he quickly neutralized his expression again when Dee spoke. His brown eyes lifted to her as she commented on the early hour.
"Yeah, just wanted a change in scenery for breakfast," Aaron explained, holding up the half of a breakfast sandwich he had in his non-letter hand. "I've also got some fruits and stuff," a gesture to the pocket of his school robe, where an apple and a banana could be seen.
"Hungry?" he asked. "You can have all the fruit, and we could sit by the lake to eat," Aaron explained. But as soon as the automatic invitation left his lips, he realized maybe that hadn't been the best suggestion. Dealla really didn't seem to be in a talkative mood, maybe she would prefer if he left entirely. He wasn't blind to her mood, it had just been instinct for the Hufflepuff to invite a friend to eat and chat with. Plus it would have given him a good reason to continue ignoring the letter that he now stuffed into his fruitless robe pocket. However, he was now fully prepared to be turned down by the Ravenclaw.
"Yeah, just wanted a change in scenery for breakfast," Aaron explained, holding up the half of a breakfast sandwich he had in his non-letter hand. "I've also got some fruits and stuff," a gesture to the pocket of his school robe, where an apple and a banana could be seen.
"Hungry?" he asked. "You can have all the fruit, and we could sit by the lake to eat," Aaron explained. But as soon as the automatic invitation left his lips, he realized maybe that hadn't been the best suggestion. Dealla really didn't seem to be in a talkative mood, maybe she would prefer if he left entirely. He wasn't blind to her mood, it had just been instinct for the Hufflepuff to invite a friend to eat and chat with. Plus it would have given him a good reason to continue ignoring the letter that he now stuffed into his fruitless robe pocket. However, he was now fully prepared to be turned down by the Ravenclaw.
@Dealla Prince
PC: Aaron Jones | iNPC: Madeleine Nakamura | Former staff account: Marcus Iwasaki
2nd Gen PC: Idalia della Torre
Best way to contact me? Discord or owl Idalia
2 Feb 2022, 19:33
Ambitious Winds
Aaron didn't noticeably react to Dee's mood, which was a relief. Otherwise she might have had to feel bad about it. He really hadn't done anything to deserve her grumping at him like this. Still, when he suggested sharing his breakfast with her, she almost told him to take his fruit and eat it somewhere else. Was it really that subtle a sign that she was sitting here all alone?
She'd already drawn in the breath, but then deflated, the air leaving her in a long stream, and she nodded. There was something about the genuine kindness in his offer that made it hard to keep the scowl on her face, so she finally gave up, letting it slip and fade. "I'll take the banana," Dealla said, as close to a "thank you" as she could make herself get in that moment. "And I guess I can share my piece of lake shore with you." A small smile quirked up the corner of her mouth. "Should warn you though, it's cold and rather uncomfortable."
Staring down at the ground in front of her feet, Dee would give him a moment to settle down, and take the banana if he offered it, although she wouldn't ask for it again if not. She really wasn't feeling like food, although she would likely regret it later if she didn't eat anything, when her stomach started growling at people in class. Wouldn't be the first time, though, so it didn't really matter.
Looking over at Aaron, Dee noticed again the letter peeking from his pocket. "Soo..." she said slowly, curious despite herself. "Don't you want to read that letter? Who is it from?"
@Aaron Jones
"One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar."
15 Feb 2022, 15:52
Ambitious Winds
Aaron handed over the banana that Dealla requested, hiding his surprise that she had agreed to his plan at all. It was a pleasant surprise though, so he wouldn't question it. "Eh, these school robes are pretty good at keeping off the chill, though maybe I should've worn my winter cloak knowing I wanted to eat outside," he said to address her mention of the cold. But he offered a small smile and took a seat nearby - not too close but not too far. Out the corner of his eyes, he saw Chae-rin fly off back towards the owlery, apparently satisfied that he had successfully been given his letter.
"Not particularly," Aaron said, when asked if he wanted to read the letter. "It's from my mum.. probably more asking me what I'm up to, being nosy, blah blah blah. And then reminding me if I don't go home for Christmas, she'll murder me... Though not in those words," he said, before taking another bite of his breakfast sandwich. He chewed thoughtfully, trying to imagine going home for Christmas and seeing his dad again. He was really nervous about seeing him. They hadn't spoken since that day Aaron left for school - all the letters he had received from home were from his mother or siblings. Even though his mother's letters often said "Dad says hi," he couldn't be sure if those were genuine.
Aaron realized a moment later that he probably looked extremely engrossed in his thoughts, so he shook off the look. He raised his brown eyes back to Dealla as he swallowed his bite of sandwich. "Are you headed home for Christmas?" It was only meant to be a casual conversation topic, to distract from how he had sounded about his mum's letter. He didn't realize this particular subject would likely strike a nerve with the Ravenclaw.
"Not particularly," Aaron said, when asked if he wanted to read the letter. "It's from my mum.. probably more asking me what I'm up to, being nosy, blah blah blah. And then reminding me if I don't go home for Christmas, she'll murder me... Though not in those words," he said, before taking another bite of his breakfast sandwich. He chewed thoughtfully, trying to imagine going home for Christmas and seeing his dad again. He was really nervous about seeing him. They hadn't spoken since that day Aaron left for school - all the letters he had received from home were from his mother or siblings. Even though his mother's letters often said "Dad says hi," he couldn't be sure if those were genuine.
Aaron realized a moment later that he probably looked extremely engrossed in his thoughts, so he shook off the look. He raised his brown eyes back to Dealla as he swallowed his bite of sandwich. "Are you headed home for Christmas?" It was only meant to be a casual conversation topic, to distract from how he had sounded about his mum's letter. He didn't realize this particular subject would likely strike a nerve with the Ravenclaw.
@Dealla Prince
PC: Aaron Jones | iNPC: Madeleine Nakamura | Former staff account: Marcus Iwasaki
2nd Gen PC: Idalia della Torre
Best way to contact me? Discord or owl Idalia
22 Feb 2022, 19:21
Ambitious Winds
Dee took the banana with a slight smile, not as bright as her usual ones, but better than none. She started breaking apart the peel at the top, pulling strips of it downwards while Aaron set down next to her. "Winter cloak might have been a good idea," she agreed, looking at her own robes. She hadn't worn her cloak, either.
His description of his mother's letters elicited a small grin around a bite of banana. "Sounds kind of like my mum. Well, without the murder part." And the telling her to come home part. "Maybe it's in the mother job description?" Although frankly, Dee didn't mind that part. It was better than the silence from her father. Her mother was just... terribly supportive. Encouraging her to get to know her grandparents if she wanted to. It was hard to explain why this bothered her so much.
Aaron's next question made her freeze for a moment, her shoulders pulling up defensively. Her voice was probably unnaturally stiff, too, when she replied. "No, I'm going to my grandparents' place in London." The words were clipped, unhappy, which was silly, since it had been her own choice to go. So what if it would have been nice if her parents had told her they wanted to see her instead of her mother's supportive encouragement to do what she felt was right. So what if she hoped to hear anything from her father, supportive or no. Although, would that have stopped her from spending the break with her grandparents? She didn't know.
Her face had returned to its previous scowl, and her next bite into the banana was possibly more vicious than the poor fruit deserved. She kind of wished she had something less soft to bite into, bananas didn't offer much opportunity for frustrated chewing.
Honestly, she was jealous of the nagging that Aaron seemed so annoyed with, and Dee hesitated slightly, uncertain what she wanted to say. She hadn't really confided in anyone about this. Her first choice would have been Ruka, but Ruka wasn't at Hogwarts anymore. "What's Christmas like at your place?" That was a safer question.
@Aaron Jones
"One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar."
22 May 2022, 00:25
Ambitious Winds
"Yeah, maybe," Aaron agreed, a small smile tugging at his lips. The "mother job description" surely had a lot of things in it, considering how much mothers did. His own mother probably did way more things than he knew or could name.
It became instantly clear the question about going home for Christmas had been the wrong one. As Aaron chewed on his breakfast sandwich, Dealla tensing up beside him was painfully obvious though she probably didn't want it to be. But if her stiffened shoulders hadn't given it away, the clipped words that came from her lips would have. Oops. Aaron almost immediately asked "why?" like an idiot, but he hesitated. And in that hesitation, a wisdom that suited an almost-fourteen-year-old told him not to ask that question. Best to just let the subject drop. She was going to her grandparents' house for the holidays and wasn't a fan of the idea. Good to know a topic to avoid.
Aaron's brown eyes cast over the lake for a moment, thinking about his own grandparents and what they might be up to. But before he could get too lost in his thoughts, Dealla spoke again. He looked over and wondered if she genuinely wanted to know, or was just trying to distract from her reaction moments ago. Regardless of the reason for asking, answering would probably only benefit them both. Lead to a different maybe happier topic? Although the fact that it still centered on Christmas was concerning.
"Well, we don't do anything fancy. My parents and my siblings will spend the day at home, usually in our pajamas. We spend the morning doing gifts and then usually the day is just spent playing with the gifts. My grandparents on Dad's side come visit, or we go visit them. And sometimes in the evening mum makes us go caroling with some of her friends and their kids, but that hasn't happened in a while... We still do the Santa thing for my little sister's sake, even though my brother and I know it's not a thing."
Even though his family's Christmas tradition was nothing special, the more Aaron talked about it, the more he looked forward to it. He had grown out of his homesickness during his first couple years at Hogwarts, but he still really looked forward to going home and seeing his family during the breaks. Even if he was fighting with his dad right now. That reminder thought made a slight frown appear on his face again as he cast his gaze back over the lake contemplatively. He didn't ask what Dealla's traditions were in case she got upset again, but if she wanted to share he would listen attentively.
It became instantly clear the question about going home for Christmas had been the wrong one. As Aaron chewed on his breakfast sandwich, Dealla tensing up beside him was painfully obvious though she probably didn't want it to be. But if her stiffened shoulders hadn't given it away, the clipped words that came from her lips would have. Oops. Aaron almost immediately asked "why?" like an idiot, but he hesitated. And in that hesitation, a wisdom that suited an almost-fourteen-year-old told him not to ask that question. Best to just let the subject drop. She was going to her grandparents' house for the holidays and wasn't a fan of the idea. Good to know a topic to avoid.
Aaron's brown eyes cast over the lake for a moment, thinking about his own grandparents and what they might be up to. But before he could get too lost in his thoughts, Dealla spoke again. He looked over and wondered if she genuinely wanted to know, or was just trying to distract from her reaction moments ago. Regardless of the reason for asking, answering would probably only benefit them both. Lead to a different maybe happier topic? Although the fact that it still centered on Christmas was concerning.
"Well, we don't do anything fancy. My parents and my siblings will spend the day at home, usually in our pajamas. We spend the morning doing gifts and then usually the day is just spent playing with the gifts. My grandparents on Dad's side come visit, or we go visit them. And sometimes in the evening mum makes us go caroling with some of her friends and their kids, but that hasn't happened in a while... We still do the Santa thing for my little sister's sake, even though my brother and I know it's not a thing."
Even though his family's Christmas tradition was nothing special, the more Aaron talked about it, the more he looked forward to it. He had grown out of his homesickness during his first couple years at Hogwarts, but he still really looked forward to going home and seeing his family during the breaks. Even if he was fighting with his dad right now. That reminder thought made a slight frown appear on his face again as he cast his gaze back over the lake contemplatively. He didn't ask what Dealla's traditions were in case she got upset again, but if she wanted to share he would listen attentively.
@Dealla Prince
PC: Aaron Jones | iNPC: Madeleine Nakamura | Former staff account: Marcus Iwasaki
2nd Gen PC: Idalia della Torre
Best way to contact me? Discord or owl Idalia
11 Jul 2022, 10:48
Ambitious Winds
"You go visit your grandparents in your pajamas?" Dee asked, a small smile pulling onto her face. It turned from teasing to wistful rather quickly after. "That sounds really nice," she said quietly, then hesitated, drawing a deep breath of cold air before speaking further.
"For me Christmas was always just with my parents, since we didn't really have any family around. On Christmas Eve my dad and I decorated the house while my mum cooked and prepared stuff for the next day." The mention of her father provided a sharp stab to her stomach, and Dee's voice wavered for a moment as she continued. "Christmas day was presents in the morning and then playing games and being lazy... and in the evening we went to the harbour to eat cookies and drink tea and watch the stars. Sometimes we even went out on the ice if the bay was frozen over. Mum always warned me to never do that without them around because it's dangerous." Dee smiled, pulling her knees closer to her chest. The banana was gone, and her body warmed up slowly as it turned some of the provided energy into heat. "Of course I did anyway. Nothing ever happened, but it was probably still stupid."
Dee let out a long breath, her smile fading, and stared out at the lake, grey in the November weather. "I guess this Christmas will be very different. No clue what it will be like at my grandparents' place. Probably not as cozy. I only met them for the first time this summer, you know." And cozy really wasn't a word she'd choose to describe the home of the Creek family, and much less so her grandparents themselves. Grand, elegant, those were more like it. Unreadable, confusing, intimidating.
Chancing a glance at Aaron, Dee noted the frown on his face, and rested her cheek on her knees, watching him. "I can't tell if you wanna go home or not," she finally noted, sounding curious.
@Aaron Jones
"One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar."
2 Oct 2022, 18:41
Ambitious Winds
"Yeah," Aaron affirmed with a smile mirroring hers at the memory of going to his grandparents' house in pajamas. It was saddening to watch as the expression on Dee's face go from genuinely happy to a faraway look, but Aaron averted his eyes accordingly as she started to speak about her own Christmas.
As she described her own traditions with her parents, Aaron had a soft smile on his lips and pictured a tiny version of Dee and faceless parents having a nice time together decorating and walking along an unnamed harbor. It sounded really nice, even if it didn't involve a lot of extended family. Aaron's smile morphed into a mischievous grin as she admitted to occasionally sneaking onto the ice and disobeying her parents. "Sounds like you have a rebellious streak," Aaron teased softly, continuing to look out at the lake as he spoke, hoping it came across as the joke it was meant to be. There was a moment of quiet where he finished off his breakfast sandwich before she continued on about this upcoming Christmas.
The mention of going to her grandparents' place prompted Aaron to look at her out the corner of his eye, noting the way she was staring out at the lake too. "For the first time?" he repeated, his curiosity peaked and unable to hold back the question. She didn't know her grandparents before? What an odd situation to be in - but maybe they lived far away and just could never visit before?
Dee finally looking over at him caught him off guard, and Aaron averted his own eyes at the comment. "Yeah, me neither," he said with a slightly awkward chuckle. After a moment, he glanced back over at her. "My dad and I weren't exactly getting along over summer, and I dunno what it'll be like when I go home," he explained with a shrug. It seemed like maybe she could relate, since she was clearly going through something. Even if they didn't go into detail about their situations (maybe they would?), it felt nice to realize he wasn't the only one going through weird family stuff and being nervous about Christmas break next month. It was still so far away, but every time he thought about it there was a pit in Aaron's stomach. Maybe that's how Dee was feeling about her grandparents?
As she described her own traditions with her parents, Aaron had a soft smile on his lips and pictured a tiny version of Dee and faceless parents having a nice time together decorating and walking along an unnamed harbor. It sounded really nice, even if it didn't involve a lot of extended family. Aaron's smile morphed into a mischievous grin as she admitted to occasionally sneaking onto the ice and disobeying her parents. "Sounds like you have a rebellious streak," Aaron teased softly, continuing to look out at the lake as he spoke, hoping it came across as the joke it was meant to be. There was a moment of quiet where he finished off his breakfast sandwich before she continued on about this upcoming Christmas.
The mention of going to her grandparents' place prompted Aaron to look at her out the corner of his eye, noting the way she was staring out at the lake too. "For the first time?" he repeated, his curiosity peaked and unable to hold back the question. She didn't know her grandparents before? What an odd situation to be in - but maybe they lived far away and just could never visit before?
Dee finally looking over at him caught him off guard, and Aaron averted his own eyes at the comment. "Yeah, me neither," he said with a slightly awkward chuckle. After a moment, he glanced back over at her. "My dad and I weren't exactly getting along over summer, and I dunno what it'll be like when I go home," he explained with a shrug. It seemed like maybe she could relate, since she was clearly going through something. Even if they didn't go into detail about their situations (maybe they would?), it felt nice to realize he wasn't the only one going through weird family stuff and being nervous about Christmas break next month. It was still so far away, but every time he thought about it there was a pit in Aaron's stomach. Maybe that's how Dee was feeling about her grandparents?
@Dealla Prince
PC: Aaron Jones | iNPC: Madeleine Nakamura | Former staff account: Marcus Iwasaki
2nd Gen PC: Idalia della Torre
Best way to contact me? Discord or owl Idalia
29 Dec 2022, 13:19
Ambitious Winds
"Me, rebellious? I'm a model student, basically an angel." Dee replied, but didn't manage to fake a convincingly indignant tone. She was very tired of pretending, and had never been very good at it to begin with. "My mum would agree with you," she added a little more softly, smiling. "But a minute later, my dad would tell me to steal cookies while he distracts my mum, so honestly, I don't think I can be blamed."
It was odd talking about all this, unfamiliar. Her grandparents had turned from this abstract concept that she could be mad at and rant about for hours into something very personal, a well hidden wound that wouldn't heal. She usually tried to not poke at it too much.
"Yeah," she confirmed. "I hadn't even talked to them before last year. Or heard from them. They don't... they don't like my mum." Her mouth snapped shut, her teeth clicking together. No, this was enough prodding the wound for the day, and her expression would make that clear. She'd told Aaron more than really anyone else already.
But it seemed that Aaron had his own share of family problems, and she raised her eyebrows. "Didn't get along?" she asked, curious. "About what?" She paused, then realised in a rare occurrence of insight that she was currently prodding about the exact things she wouldn't want to be asked about. "I mean," she backtracked, "you don't have to tell me. I know that's... difficult sometimes." She turned her head, staring at the ground morosely. "Family issues suck."
@Aaron Jones
"One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar."