11 May 2022, 08:28
Windows of Possibility
Bea shook her head slowly at Skraele, smiling slightly. Withdrawing the offer of candy she rested the jar back in her lap. "A'm hopin' for Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff masel." I'm hoping for Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff myself. She turned then to Mike, giggling slightly at his misunderstanding. She really didn't mean it, but she had never heard of someone describing the Hogwarts houses as real houses. She could imagine it though. The four houses being cottages across the lawns of the great castle, each decorated in their colours. "The schuil has fower hoose's. Like schuil teams. Ravenclaw is the smairt one, Hufflepuff the leal one. Thare 're twa mair, Slytherin, the ambeetious one, and Gryffindor, the brave one. Not to say you can't be in anither hoose an' be them too." The school has four houses. Like school teams. Ravenclaw is the smart one, Hufflepuff the loyal one. There are two more, Slytherin, the ambitious one and Gryffindor, the brave one. Not to say you can't be in another house and the be them too.
"Me Ma was in Ravenclaw and me Da was Hufflepuff, so A'm howpin' for one of the twa." My Mum was in Ravenclaw and my Dad was Hufflepuff, so I'm hoping for one of the two. She nodded. Nan though she was to be in Ravenclaw. Bea supposed she was right. The eleven year old had always had a penchant for discovering things, especially across the farm with the dogs in tow. Or when it was really miserable, her nose would be stuck in a book by the fire. "What aboot ye twa? Fit hoose do ye think ye will be in? What about you two? What house to you think you will be in?
@Michael Ashen @ Skraele Valasse
"Me Ma was in Ravenclaw and me Da was Hufflepuff, so A'm howpin' for one of the twa." My Mum was in Ravenclaw and my Dad was Hufflepuff, so I'm hoping for one of the two. She nodded. Nan though she was to be in Ravenclaw. Bea supposed she was right. The eleven year old had always had a penchant for discovering things, especially across the farm with the dogs in tow. Or when it was really miserable, her nose would be stuck in a book by the fire. "What aboot ye twa? Fit hoose do ye think ye will be in? What about you two? What house to you think you will be in?
@Michael Ashen @ Skraele Valasse
11 May 2022, 09:00
Windows of Possibility
She smiles and nods her head slowly, hiding a niggle of bewilderment at his strange behavior. "I've heard there are supposed to be lots of stairs, so it might still be a bit of walking to class. I appreciate your help very much, Michael. I'm sure you, Bea and I will have a lot of fun together! Honestly, I don't have much experience with that either, but it sounds great!" She gives a quick wink. She follows his gaze out the window, but doesn't see anything particularly interesting. Turning to Bea, "I guess I'll be put in Griffindor, maybe? I dunno. It will be incredibly boring if I am. I think Slytherin is the least likely which is why I want to go there. Who better to learn new things from? Wait, what if we all get different houses? Would we still be able to hang out?"
The boy is quite unlike anyone she'd ever met. She isn't remotely sure how to handle the situation, doesn't want to push him too much. She doesn't want him to feel unwelcome with the girls either. She is pretty confident they can bring him a little out of his shell in whatever time they have. The other girl is so calm, more like a proper girl than herself it seems. She hopes they'll have enough in common. She bears a thoughtful expression while tapping on her chin thoughtfully, before she gets distracted again.
Her eyes look down to Mike's measly bag. "Whatcha got in there? Anything fun to pass the time? Happen to have your history book? Perhaps there's some info on Hogwarts in there, and we all could go over it together?" She points to the bag then turns her palm up while her legs unfurl to sit normally and lean forward again. "Mind if I have a look? Must be some stuff important to you if you didn't put it in storage."
@Michael Ashen @Beatrice Langstreth
The boy is quite unlike anyone she'd ever met. She isn't remotely sure how to handle the situation, doesn't want to push him too much. She doesn't want him to feel unwelcome with the girls either. She is pretty confident they can bring him a little out of his shell in whatever time they have. The other girl is so calm, more like a proper girl than herself it seems. She hopes they'll have enough in common. She bears a thoughtful expression while tapping on her chin thoughtfully, before she gets distracted again.
Her eyes look down to Mike's measly bag. "Whatcha got in there? Anything fun to pass the time? Happen to have your history book? Perhaps there's some info on Hogwarts in there, and we all could go over it together?" She points to the bag then turns her palm up while her legs unfurl to sit normally and lean forward again. "Mind if I have a look? Must be some stuff important to you if you didn't put it in storage."
@Michael Ashen @Beatrice Langstreth
«Seer» STA: «7» EVA: «7» STR: «4» WIS: «6» ARC: «6» ACC: «5»
~±~It is a sign of contraction of the mind when it is content, or of weariness. A spirited mind never stops within itself;
it is always aspiring and going beyond its strength.~±~
13 May 2022, 05:59
Windows of Possibility
He picks up his bag, and hugs it to his chest, and gives her a forlorn look. Of course there was no way she could possibly know how often his muggle classmates demanded to see his bag before it wound up on the roof, or down a drain. His odd eyes look over her face, searching for any signs that her intent was to seize it, or throw it out the window. This was the last bag he could have afforded, and he had gotten it from his boxing coach, after his last one was stolen.
He looks over at the window, which is closed, and sizes her up, then bows his head and closes his eyes. Then, uncertainly, he hands over all his worldly possessions to his new acquaintance, hoping that she won't be cruel, or at the very least, that he will be able to get to her before she can open the window.
"H-here y'go," he says, and bites his lip, watching her carefully. He says nothing about his fears, but he hates the way his voice quavers.
Why can ye nae be a man? his uncle said, once, before the drink took him, and his words still ring in the boy's head.
He looks over at the window, which is closed, and sizes her up, then bows his head and closes his eyes. Then, uncertainly, he hands over all his worldly possessions to his new acquaintance, hoping that she won't be cruel, or at the very least, that he will be able to get to her before she can open the window.
"H-here y'go," he says, and bites his lip, watching her carefully. He says nothing about his fears, but he hates the way his voice quavers.
Why can ye nae be a man? his uncle said, once, before the drink took him, and his words still ring in the boy's head.
Stats: Stamina 7 | Evasion 5| Strength 5|
Wisdom 7| Arcane Power 5| Accuracy 6
13 May 2022, 08:50
Windows of Possibility
Bea laughed at Skraele's comment. What if we are all in different houses?! That would be funny. She kind of hoped one of them would be in her house.
"A hope one 'f ye 's in me hoose." I hope one of you is in my house.Either way, she figured, Bea now knew some people. Hopefully she'd be able to call them friends.
As Mike passed over his bag, obviously with great reluctance on his part. Bea lent forward, trying to see in the bag. "Fit's in it?" What's in it? She wondered what was so important about this one bag that he would keep it with him.
"A keep a drawin' byk in my bag. It's in ma trunk praisently." I keep a sketch book in my bag. It's in my trunk at present.She usually filled her time by sketching things found at home, usually the dogs or goats. It would have been a good idea to include that with her on the train. Maybe that would settle her nerves. Hopefully, by the time they all got to Hogwarts and she was sorted, the butterflies would be gone.
She turned to Mike, hoping to distract him slightly as Skraele looked at the bag. "Whauraboots do ye come frae? Ye soond Scottish...?" Where do you come from? You sound Scottish...?Although they both sounded Scottish, Bea knew he was from another area. Her accent was from the East, up near Ellon, past Aberdeen.
"A hope one 'f ye 's in me hoose." I hope one of you is in my house.Either way, she figured, Bea now knew some people. Hopefully she'd be able to call them friends.
As Mike passed over his bag, obviously with great reluctance on his part. Bea lent forward, trying to see in the bag. "Fit's in it?" What's in it? She wondered what was so important about this one bag that he would keep it with him.
"A keep a drawin' byk in my bag. It's in ma trunk praisently." I keep a sketch book in my bag. It's in my trunk at present.She usually filled her time by sketching things found at home, usually the dogs or goats. It would have been a good idea to include that with her on the train. Maybe that would settle her nerves. Hopefully, by the time they all got to Hogwarts and she was sorted, the butterflies would be gone.
She turned to Mike, hoping to distract him slightly as Skraele looked at the bag. "Whauraboots do ye come frae? Ye soond Scottish...?" Where do you come from? You sound Scottish...?Although they both sounded Scottish, Bea knew he was from another area. Her accent was from the East, up near Ellon, past Aberdeen.
13 May 2022, 09:55
Windows of Possibility
Skraele tries to reign in her excitement at discovering what is in the bag that is so important. She accepts the bag attentively with a smile before turning towards Bea. "All different houses? That would be terrible... but maybe we can use that to our advantage. Can't think of a way how at the moment. We are all quite different, aren't we? That's a good thing. Sameness gets boring very quickly. Still, that would be terrible!" The very idea is a little saddening. Not even sure what it means to be in different houses, would they be against each other or see each other much?
She laughs softly with a wince then perks up. "A what? Drawing book? Ooo, you draw? I have to see! You have to show me! I love art, though I don't have an inkle... that a word? Inkling of artistry myself. To be honest, I don't have a clue where Aberdeen and Glasgow are, more reason to go visit. Hey! Maybe I can visit youse during summer."
Moving right along, she wipes down the bag, using her pants as a rag, and draws the bag slightly and peeks inside before opening it fully and pulling things out. "Eh, what's this, Michael?" This might be up for interpretation as everything is laid out, neatly, on the other seat in short order. She scans back and forth, ordering the most interesting pieces in mind.
She laughs softly with a wince then perks up. "A what? Drawing book? Ooo, you draw? I have to see! You have to show me! I love art, though I don't have an inkle... that a word? Inkling of artistry myself. To be honest, I don't have a clue where Aberdeen and Glasgow are, more reason to go visit. Hey! Maybe I can visit youse during summer."
Moving right along, she wipes down the bag, using her pants as a rag, and draws the bag slightly and peeks inside before opening it fully and pulling things out. "Eh, what's this, Michael?" This might be up for interpretation as everything is laid out, neatly, on the other seat in short order. She scans back and forth, ordering the most interesting pieces in mind.
«Seer» STA: «7» EVA: «7» STR: «4» WIS: «6» ARC: «6» ACC: «5»
~±~It is a sign of contraction of the mind when it is content, or of weariness. A spirited mind never stops within itself;
it is always aspiring and going beyond its strength.~±~
14 May 2022, 03:28
Windows of Possibility
"It's a notebook. I could only afford th'one, so I got the biggest I could. I didnae know that 'twas a sketchbook. I hae never sketched."
Ya dinnae need to lie to her. Look at her -- she'll nae think ill a'yer drawing.
"Nae, that's a lie. I do draw. I'm sorry I lied. I wasnae allowed to do drawin' at home. It was thrown away by m'classmates, and torn up by them. I . . . I was afraid ye'd do the same, but I shouldnae hae been. You both seem nicer than any others I remember. Please excuse me," he says, miserably.
"Those're my tapes, for my hands. I have to tape them before boxin', tae keep them safe. If ye don't, the small bones in yer hands might break if parried or if they hit somethin' 'ard like a human cheekbone."
"That happened tae me once . . . I broke a knuckle, hitting a wall without me hands taped. It hurt a lot, and took forever tae heal. I can show ye how they work, if y'like."
He takes her hand gently in his, and starts to wrap the tape around the palm, and through the fingers, and around her wrists, until they're both wrapped.
Never thought I'd hold a girl's hand. Well, maybe she'll let me do it again, some day.
Ya dinnae need to lie to her. Look at her -- she'll nae think ill a'yer drawing.
"Nae, that's a lie. I do draw. I'm sorry I lied. I wasnae allowed to do drawin' at home. It was thrown away by m'classmates, and torn up by them. I . . . I was afraid ye'd do the same, but I shouldnae hae been. You both seem nicer than any others I remember. Please excuse me," he says, miserably.
"Those're my tapes, for my hands. I have to tape them before boxin', tae keep them safe. If ye don't, the small bones in yer hands might break if parried or if they hit somethin' 'ard like a human cheekbone."
"That happened tae me once . . . I broke a knuckle, hitting a wall without me hands taped. It hurt a lot, and took forever tae heal. I can show ye how they work, if y'like."
He takes her hand gently in his, and starts to wrap the tape around the palm, and through the fingers, and around her wrists, until they're both wrapped.
Never thought I'd hold a girl's hand. Well, maybe she'll let me do it again, some day.
Stats: Stamina 7 | Evasion 5| Strength 5|
Wisdom 7| Arcane Power 5| Accuracy 6
14 May 2022, 06:15
Windows of Possibility
She leant her head back against the wall, listening to the conversation within the cabin with interest, though not yet wanting to interrupt. The students inside seemed to be strangers and yet, getting along okay. She had picked up the two Scottish accents, and the two female voices trying their hardest to make friends. What if they wouldn’t be friends though? It wasn’t something you could force. Still, Hilda listened and wondered if the voices inside would be friends with her.
This morning had been filled with the excited, nervous, potential that a new adventure was sure to bring, and yet now, on the verge of making contact, Hilda had stalled. She had friends already, good friends that loved and cared for her. Friends that questioned why she wasn’t going to school with them anymore, why she was going to a boarding school instead of the public one they had all assumed. Well, everyone but her father and Hilda herself who knew she was going to be attending Hogwarts from a young age. Still, knowing she would be coming to a school of magic, and it actually being the day she was doing it, were quite different. And she didn’t have her friends to share her now daunting, nervous energy with.
What if she failed?
Her head rolled towards the door of the compartment, to where the Scottish lass was offering some ‘cherry flavoured candy’ to the others. Hilda bit her lip in uncertainty and moved her head back. The trunk by her side lumbered into her comfortingly as the train jostled down the tracks. Her father had been full of smiles and promises that she would love Hogwarts. That she would do well, and make new friends, and impress all the teachers… but she wasn’t that smart. Even the two girls in the cabin behind her sounded like they knew more about what they wanted in life. The other girl thought to ‘shake things up’ by getting put in Slytherin, which had brought a small smile to her face, but really it sounded like the girl wanted some mischief. Perhaps everyone was simply as nervous as she was and saying anything they could to elate their fears? What if these people took one look at her, decided she was boring and not worth the effort, and then passed it on to everyone they met until the whole school wanted nothing to do with her?
And… what if they didn’t?
Ultimately it was the boy’s sudden explanation of his wrist tape, that indicated the withdrawn boy was relaxing enough to explain something about himself to these two strangers, that made Hilda grip her trunk handle determinedly and knock on the compartment door. If nothing else she could at least put faces to the voices and smile at them in the Great Hall from time to time.
Last edited by Hilda Cavendish on 14 May 2022, 10:59, edited 1 time in total.
`Stm 9 `Eva 3 `Str 8 `Wis 7 `Arc Pow 5 `Acc 8
"The stories we love best will live in us forever" JKR
"The stories we love best will live in us forever" JKR
14 May 2022, 09:31
Windows of Possibility
The conductor. He's seen me holdin' her hand, and he's here tae put me off t'train! Michael thought, panicked, without any sense of logic or reason. Please forgive him. He comes from a place where such things might happen without logic, or reason, to a friendless boy, new to strange things, and there were few things stranger than the Hogwarts Express, in his experience.
He immediately, and without ceremony, drops Skraele's hand, and sits back down across from her.
I may hae lost those tapes. I hope that at Hogwarts they hae others. They weren't too expensive, but m'funds hae been dwindlin' rapidly, and it's for sure that m'aunt cannae afford to keep buying me things if I lose them, he thought.
"Please, come in," he said, his voice barely audible over the sound of the train against the tracks, and, realizing that whoever was outside would probably not have heard him, went over to open the door.
Please, for th'love of all that's holy, don't be a conductor, he thought, and was pleasantly surprised that the person on the other side of the door was, in fact, another student, which meant -- at least for the next five minutes -- that he probably wouldn't be tossed into some ignominious ditch.
He immediately, and without ceremony, drops Skraele's hand, and sits back down across from her.
I may hae lost those tapes. I hope that at Hogwarts they hae others. They weren't too expensive, but m'funds hae been dwindlin' rapidly, and it's for sure that m'aunt cannae afford to keep buying me things if I lose them, he thought.
"Please, come in," he said, his voice barely audible over the sound of the train against the tracks, and, realizing that whoever was outside would probably not have heard him, went over to open the door.
Please, for th'love of all that's holy, don't be a conductor, he thought, and was pleasantly surprised that the person on the other side of the door was, in fact, another student, which meant -- at least for the next five minutes -- that he probably wouldn't be tossed into some ignominious ditch.
Last edited by Michael Ashen on 14 May 2022, 09:47, edited 1 time in total.
Stats: Stamina 7 | Evasion 5| Strength 5|
Wisdom 7| Arcane Power 5| Accuracy 6
14 May 2022, 09:45
Windows of Possibility
She laughed amusingly at Skraele, a sloght blush forming on her cheeks. She didn't really have many people who knew she drew. Only her family and a few people in Ellon, when her Nan took her to get art supplies. "A'msure wit' practice ye'll be good at it!"
Bea smiled at Mikeas he recounted that he drew. "A draw beasties I find at home. Fit do ye draw? Can A av' a look?" The kmowledge that he drew but it wasn't appreciated drew a frown on her face. Her Nan had always appreciated her interest. She was a bit bewilderedthat someone could be that mean.
Before she could fully grasp the concept of people not appreciating someone's talent Mike grabbed Skraeles hands, informing her that he was a boxer. "at's interesting! How long 'ave ye been a boxer?"
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Mike's sudden fear made Bea want to grab him in a hug. She looked to the door. Standing there was another girl. She looked to be in first year, like the rest of them. Bea smiled at the newcomer. "Walcome! Come sit!" She patted the space next to her, as Michael and Skraele were on the opposite side. "A'm Beatrice, but ye can call me Bea." She looked to Skraele and Mike to introduce themselves.
Bea smiled at Mikeas he recounted that he drew. "A draw beasties I find at home. Fit do ye draw? Can A av' a look?" The kmowledge that he drew but it wasn't appreciated drew a frown on her face. Her Nan had always appreciated her interest. She was a bit bewilderedthat someone could be that mean.
Before she could fully grasp the concept of people not appreciating someone's talent Mike grabbed Skraeles hands, informing her that he was a boxer. "at's interesting! How long 'ave ye been a boxer?"
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Mike's sudden fear made Bea want to grab him in a hug. She looked to the door. Standing there was another girl. She looked to be in first year, like the rest of them. Bea smiled at the newcomer. "Walcome! Come sit!" She patted the space next to her, as Michael and Skraele were on the opposite side. "A'm Beatrice, but ye can call me Bea." She looked to Skraele and Mike to introduce themselves.
14 May 2022, 10:58
Windows of Possibility
The conversation stalled at her tapping, had someone invited her in? She was not sure. She chewed her bottom lip in thought, contemplated moving down the corridor to another door for a split second, and then door slid open. It was the boy she’d heard. He was rougher around the edges than she would have thought, and was that relief she saw in his pale eyes? She wasn’t sure, and didn’t know if his gaze unnerved her but she gave a small smile before lowering her eyes to the ground.
“Welcome! Come sit!” The Scottish lass called out from behind him.
Hilda glanced by the boy to see the newly introduced ‘Bea’ patting the chair next to her. The girl was shorter than Hilda, with curly hair and a smile just as big as Hilda had imagined. A glance showed that there was not much room in the racks above them for her trunk, and so she took a breath, moved the heavy thing against the wall and finally released the handle. To her dismay, she noticed her palms were sweating. Nervously she wiped them on her jeans, and placed them in the front pockets of her Appleby Arrows blue bomber jacket.
“Thank you.” She said to quietly Beatrice, she nodded at the boy and moved around him to perch on the seat offered. Had she introduced herself? Her throat dry, she thought not. Swallowing to try and find some saliva to fix her mistake, she noticed the items on the chair opposite and wondered what they were doing. Hadn’t they been speaking about being sorted and finding out about Hogwarts and then… boxing. The muggle sport? She glanced at the boy’s hands then, and thought they did indeed look like they had seen rough times. She was glad of her hidden fists for no doubt they showed the scars of many splinters and calluses from the brooms she’d had to manage with her father.
“Ah.. my name is Hilda.” She said politely, and swiftly looked at the last student. A redhaired girl with bright green eyes and a face full of freckles. Hilda gave her a small smile too before quickly avoiding everyone’s gaze by looking out the window. They were passing rolling hills, as much as they had for the first part of their trip, with no changes to note. Not much in the way of discussion there. Feeling her nerves coming back with a new passion, she chewed on her lip again and hoped she hadn’t interrupted the conversation completely.
`Stm 9 `Eva 3 `Str 8 `Wis 7 `Arc Pow 5 `Acc 8
"The stories we love best will live in us forever" JKR
"The stories we love best will live in us forever" JKR