24 May 2018, 18:37
The One With the Blossoms.
*
There wasn’t a word in the human language to best describe the beauty of the view that stretched out before her. She tried to think of one, but every time it came up short. What could capture the painterly swathe of blue and white across the sky, or the vibrant ocean of green that wrapped around the waters of the Great Lake? Caught reflected on the lake’s surface were the distant mountains, ripping apart the sky with their red and browns like a knife slicing through a canvas. And at their peaks, tips of icy white seemed to touch the sky, fading into mist that enveloped the horizon. It was more than beautiful, Jessica thought. In fact, her father hadn’t quite done it justice when he tried to describe it. Find the tree outside the courtyard, he had said before she came to Hogwarts. The one with the blossoms. It should be just along the hillside. Find it and wait for the sun to set. You won’t regret it.
He had told her it was his favorite spot at Hogwarts, and Jessica was beginning to understand why. She was sure that this would become her favorite spot too, and this thought alone caused her to smile.
She leaned back against the tree and crossed her legs at the ankles. Clutched to her chest was a book she had brought with her from home; an obscure murder-mystery novel that was arguably too mature for a twelve-year-old. Admittedly, Jessica had already scoured the library at Hogwarts for any books that might compare, but found only academic writings and not much storytelling. She hadn’t the mind for such things, and so resigned herself to the adventure books she knew and love.
Besides, what excitement could there be to have in Arsenius Jigger’s Magical Drafts & Potions?
Sounds from students enjoying the Blossom Festival could be heard nearby, but from where Jessica sat positioned along the hill overlooking the Great Lake, there weren’t very many students wandering about. Earlier, Jessica had constructed her own crown of flowers from the field of daisies below and placed it atop her head. Wearing it made her feel at home, and like her mother used to do Jessica fashioned her long hair into a mess of a braid that draped over her left shoulder. Tendrils of reddish-brown hair that had escaped the braid floated around her head like blossoms on the wind and would catch on her lips and eyelashes. Glancing up, she watched the sunlight break through the tree’s canopy and blinked against the yellow-white light when it hit her face. A moment passed before Jessica resigned to closing her eyes and focused, easing into the feeling of the breeze caressing her skin and the sounds of insects chirping. Surely it would be alright to take a short nap?
Crack!
"Huh?" Jessica jolted upright at the sound and looked from left to right, convinced she had heard a twig snapping nearby.
*
29 May 2018, 05:21
The One With the Blossoms.
A sigh escaping her mouth, Rhea clutched her book bag to her chest and ran down the steps of the school, making her way to the specific spot she'd picked out for herself at the beginning of the year. It was a spot near where the hillside, near a tree. There, the redhead would sit on the edge, her feet dangling, and look at over the view. Especially at sunset, she would come out here more often than not. It was a good way, in her opinion, to relax. She would even go as far as to say this place was her favorite place in the entire school.
Seeing the tip of the hill in the near distance, Rhea quickened her pace. The sooner she got to her designated resting spot, the more she would be able to accomplish. The sky inspired her to draw, and maybe even to compose sometimes. Something about the way the clouds blended into the blue sky just got ideas flowing in and out of her brain.
As she got closer and closer, it seemed her vision dimmed, focused only on the spot she usually sat in. Oblivious to all her surroundings, Rhea didn't see the branch in front of her until it was too late. She found herself almost falling flat on her face, but managed to catch herself at the last moment. Thank goodness for that, otherwise she would've found herself with no book bag and years worth of drawings and sheet music... gone. It would ruin what little happiness and relaxation she contained that night.
If she had continued her journey, Rhea would have found herself plopping down on the tip of the hill. She would have taken out her notebook and decided whether to draw or think up melodies. Instead, her plans were interrupted when a soft rustling reached her. Turning around, Rhea looked throughout the nearby grounds to see who was close. Next to the nearest tree, one with beautiful blossoms that Rhea had always wanted to draw, she spotted a figure. Tilting her head, she contemplated whether to go over to the person or not. There was no doubt in her mind that the figure had already seen her, and now that Rhea thought deeply about it, it would be rude not to make some sort of appearance.
Gathering up her things, Rhea made her way to the figure - who seemed to be a girl, on closer inspection. Not noticing the branch, once again, Rhea found herself almost tripping. It was as if the branch was placed there on purpose. Just to trip the young redhead.
Rhea approached the tree, and guessed that the girl had already seen her coming, what with the tripping in all. Rubbing the back of her neck, Rhea smiled. She noticed the flower crown settled atop the girl's head, and nodded in appreciation. It was a simply, dainty-looking one. Rhea thought it fit the girl perfectly.
"I like your flower crown," Rhea started, in hopes of initiating a conversation. There was no point not to, right? Besides, Rhea was never one to shy away from socializing. And, this girl looked like she knew how to make proper flower crowns - something Rhea certainly wanted to get better at doing.
Seeing the tip of the hill in the near distance, Rhea quickened her pace. The sooner she got to her designated resting spot, the more she would be able to accomplish. The sky inspired her to draw, and maybe even to compose sometimes. Something about the way the clouds blended into the blue sky just got ideas flowing in and out of her brain.
As she got closer and closer, it seemed her vision dimmed, focused only on the spot she usually sat in. Oblivious to all her surroundings, Rhea didn't see the branch in front of her until it was too late. She found herself almost falling flat on her face, but managed to catch herself at the last moment. Thank goodness for that, otherwise she would've found herself with no book bag and years worth of drawings and sheet music... gone. It would ruin what little happiness and relaxation she contained that night.
If she had continued her journey, Rhea would have found herself plopping down on the tip of the hill. She would have taken out her notebook and decided whether to draw or think up melodies. Instead, her plans were interrupted when a soft rustling reached her. Turning around, Rhea looked throughout the nearby grounds to see who was close. Next to the nearest tree, one with beautiful blossoms that Rhea had always wanted to draw, she spotted a figure. Tilting her head, she contemplated whether to go over to the person or not. There was no doubt in her mind that the figure had already seen her, and now that Rhea thought deeply about it, it would be rude not to make some sort of appearance.
Gathering up her things, Rhea made her way to the figure - who seemed to be a girl, on closer inspection. Not noticing the branch, once again, Rhea found herself almost tripping. It was as if the branch was placed there on purpose. Just to trip the young redhead.
Rhea approached the tree, and guessed that the girl had already seen her coming, what with the tripping in all. Rubbing the back of her neck, Rhea smiled. She noticed the flower crown settled atop the girl's head, and nodded in appreciation. It was a simply, dainty-looking one. Rhea thought it fit the girl perfectly.
"I like your flower crown," Rhea started, in hopes of initiating a conversation. There was no point not to, right? Besides, Rhea was never one to shy away from socializing. And, this girl looked like she knew how to make proper flower crowns - something Rhea certainly wanted to get better at doing.
Reducio
Sorry for the late response! And most likely not too good either, I'm pretty tired right now oof
the trouble is, if you don't risk anything -- you risk more.
♕ℛ ♕
STAMINA: 4; EVASION: 10; STRENGTH: 8; WISDOM: 6; ARCANE POWER: 5; ACCURACY: 12