fin Cerulean Dreams PV Colin :3, Gem >:(, Kim <3, Jarael :), Pax 8)

Pax had no idea what they had just walked into.

All they had needed to do was return a book they'd taken out a while ago (and may have forgotten about, but that detail is unimportant). That was all they'd needed to do. So how they found themselves in this situation was beyond themself.

When they'd dropped the book off, they'd heard their good friend (well, they considered him a good friend, whether the feeling was mutual was another matter) Kim Sato's voice from behind a shelf.

"So. We haven't spent much time together over the past few days. Want to remedy that?"

That was definitely Kim's voice. Especially with the way it sounded like he was in a constant state of flirtation. They knew it arguably too well. So where was he? And who was he with?

Hoping to get an insight, they rounded the corner and saw said friend with his arm slung easily around another girls shoulders. Their faces were incredibly close, and the girl at least seemed to be staring intently into his eyes. Pax felt themself go red at such a public disply of affection, but quickly tried to compose themself. They were in a boarding school...they had to get used to seeing students of all ages being very affectionate with each other...despite how confused and uncomfortable it made them.

Hoping that they were no longer flushed, they coughed into their fist. "Well hello there. What's...uh...going on here?"

"Yo. You two coming or not?" A familiar voice called out over a shelf. Unable to recognise the voice, Pax walked past (quickly passing Kim and the girl) to emerge to another confusing sight.

A ginger-haired girl was sat next to a boy, scratching his ear. Pax blinked several times, looked back, before turning back to the ginger-haired. "Have I just intruded on something...?"

Reducio

Word Count: 323

Mentioned: @Gemima Sable, @Colin McCoire Interacting with: @Kim Sato, @Sophia Nelson

Date: 21st May 2022: Around 1.30 pm

WC: 413 Hex: #433867

Date: May 21, 2022 Outfit: Yellow, no bag

【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】

Kim's eyes glazed over, and he shifted slightly where he stood, obviously lost in thought.
Gemima studied him for a moment, but then Sophia's voice broke the awkward silence:
"Yo. You two coming or not?"

"Coming." Kim replied, and he immediately darted out from behind the shelves. Confused, Gem snapped her mouth shut, as she heard the trail end of another voice from around the corner. "...Have I just intruded on something...?"
From her spot behind the books, she could make out the back of a Gryffindor with short dark hair. Kim bumped into them, but carried on just as quickly.

Gemima gave a little huff, feeling more perplexed than ever. But then she heard the muffled sobbing coming from the direction of the table. Colin?
So, he really had been crying. Guilt pooled in her stomach, and she rushed out of the nook to go see what she could do to help.

Gem swiftly sat down in a chair adjacent to Colin, who was still shaking like a leaf. Her heart ached in sympathy as she recognized the aftershocks of a panic attack, or something similar. She carefully pulled the now tear stained poem towards herself, and read it over again.

The words on the parchment were simple, but they evoked a sense of blissful happiness in her chest. It was like taking a breath of cool, fresh air, and she was reminded of when she would run down the beach, into the waves back home. Gemima felt like running down the Scottish moor, with the wind in her hair, and the sun on her cheeks. If the poem was put to music, it would be a most beautiful melody.

And while the drawings were still somewhat foreign to her, she could tell that they meant a great deal to this strange, wild-haired boy.

"I can tell you care very much for this "Eyes of Sky"," she finally said, voice soft and eyes gentle. "You've got some genuine talent, Colin. Art is nothing to be ashamed of! Being able to put your emotions to paper makes something like this all the more raw, and special."

Gem pushed the parchment back towards the Slytherin. She let a small smirk grace her lips. "If I were this girl, I'd be absolutely..." she paused, searching for the right word, "...besotted with you! I know we all came here to help you with your poetry, but I think you've got a good handle on it, yourself."

【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】

@Kim Sato | @Pax Zhang | @Colin McCoire | @Sophia Nelson

Colin's tears flowed as Sophia's voice surrounded him and comforted him. He could only nod mutely as she said he could write as many poems as he wanted to. He knew deep inside himself that wanted --- no, needed --- to write so much more! He just wanted to open his heart up to her and tell her everything he felt about her. About himself. About them.

Sophia started to scratch behind his ear. It was nice feeling. Comforting. It took a few moments, but she was able to calm him down and he stopped shivering. Colin's eyes opened and closed a couple times. Slowly. He took a couple deep breaths.

"Mmmmmmm," he said. Colin smiled a little. "That's a nice ear scratch!" He leaned into Sophia's hand, bending his neck a little so the scratching would hit all the right spots.

He heard Kim's voice and saw him sit down at the table. He raised his eyebrow when he realised what Sophia was doing. Clearly Kim had never experienced the wonderful healing touch of a good scratch behind the ear. It was like massage for Colin's battered heart. "Don't forget the other side, Soph," he whispered. He smiled broadly at Kim and then at his friend Pax. She was adventuresome and Colin had liked her immediately. Well, after they sorted out the whole bad nickname and threatening Jarael fiasco! Colin was engrossed in Sophia's ear scratching, so he nodded towards Pax and said "Hey Hunter --- what are you doing here?".

At last he heard Gem's voice. She sat down next to him. The parchment with his poem and his sketches and his tears floated in Gem's direction. He turned and watched as she held it to read. She read with intent and Colin thought she must have been moved by it.

He listened as she told him what she thought. He looked up at Gem as she said 'besotted' --- well! That was unexpected! he thought.

Colin looked from one to the other, then curled up in the chair and leaned back into Sophia's hand even more. "Mmmmmm!" he purred. Then realising they were all looking at him, he said: "What? I can't help it! I --- er --- I like scratches behind my ears."

To Gem he said: "You really think it's okay? Besotting, even? I --- I do, em ---" he started to say. He was only barely aware of what the word besotted implied, but thought it sounded like a good word. He blushed terribly red, in spite of all the calm inducing ear scratching. "Eyes of Sky. I really do --- er ---" his fell to a whisper "--- love --- Jarael."

He smiled, then turned back to the table. He took out another sheet of parchment and one of the charmed quills. He set the top of the quill to his fang in thought. It clicked slightly against his teeth and then he began to write. He got almost all the way across the line when he chanced to look back a bit.

"YEEP!!" he squeaked and dropped the quill as if he'd been shocked. "Hey! Where did the words go!?" Colin picked up the parchment and shook it, as if the words he'd just written were somehow hiding inside the page. He held it up to the bright light streaming in from the large window, but of course the parchment was too thick for much more than a dull glow to be transmitted.

"Soph! Your quill ate my words! Look! You can see the faint indentation on the parchment!" He held the page at a very low angle so the light would reflect off the slight impression his writing had made on the page. "What kind of quill is that, anyway? Something from Zonko's?"

He picked up the quill again and furrowed his brows as he looked it over. He sniffed it. Just like the other quill, its faint aroma was that of Sophia's hands and pockets. "Oh! I've got it!" he said excitedly and he shook the quill up and down. "The wee clicky bit! The bit that starts the magic! I forgot to make it click!"

So Colin held the quill in his left fist, thumped it on the table, then flicked it upwards and caught it. The wee nib was now poised over the parchment. Colin smiled. "What should I write!?"

@Sophia Nelson | @Kim Sato | @Gemima Sable || Mentioning: @Jarael Morningstar

Sophia noticed Gem and Kim coming their way again, but there was also a third person involved now. Some Gryffindor she didn't know. A friend of Kim's maybe? She did look a bit familiar, but where did Sophia know that face...?

Despite their feud, Sophia couldn't fight back the smile when Gem came to comfort Colin. She missed that part of Gem, and, despite knowing it was her own fault for losing it, it was nice to see once again. Even if it wasn't directed at her.

"Yeah, Colin's amazing," she beamed, proud of her brother-figure, "He mostly needs a battleplan. He has talent, a good heart, and he's obviously handsome. We just need to walk him through actually asking her out, I think?"

Then, she abruptly turned to Kim.

"Which is why I asked you and Sable to come here today," she explained, focusing fully on Kim, "She's a bookworm, so I trust her to help with poetry, but you're charming, charismatic, and so confident. I think you could help with coaching Colin through actually confessing to this girl."

Sophia returned her attention to petting Colin as she had been before, but then she remembered the newcomer and blushed, embarrassed at having forgotten all about her.

"S-sorry. I'm out of my element today. I'm Sophia."

There. Introductions? Check. A general plan? Check. Colin receiving ear scratches? Check. Operation: Get Colin the Girl was a go.

Now to figure out how they'd go about this. Colin did seem to have a handle on the poetry itself. His poetry would certainly make her swoon if she received it from someone she liked. But how could they go about actually coaching him through confessing his feelings? Sophia wasn't very good at that part, as was evident by her botched confession to Kim. Her only talent was bringing actually talented people together.

Well, she'd done all she could. The actual talented people could surely come up with something now.

Notes:

Reducio

Sophia misgendered Pax, but that's on purpose OOC. I want her to mess up to prepare for a later thread with Pax in which Sophia is educated a bit more

Interacting:
@Kim Sato || @Colin McCoire || @Gemima Sable || @Pax Zhang
Mentioning:
@Jarael Morningstar

Blinking, Pax looked back and forth between the four people. First at Kim, with an expression akin to What the hell dude? Next, to the ginger-haired, Where the heck do I know you from? Thirdly to Colin, 'Sup with you Wolf Boi? And last but not least, the girl who they had no recollection of, Who are you?

"Well I guess that I'm not getting an answer to my question," they sighed, crossing their arms. "And from the look on Wolf Boi's face, I'd say he's got the feels. Jarael, isn't it? Or... Eyes of Sky?

With a raise of their eyebrows, they already assumed these people had no clue how they'd met before, so quickly moved ahead to answer that question. "Yeah, we've talked before. I know Colin. Don't ask questions."

"Anyway, I'm no expert- in fact far from it- but I'd reckon you just wanna straight up ask her out. Yeah, just be bold with it. Go big or go home, you know. Uh, practice with-" they clicked their fingers, trying to recall names but failed. "Ginger Snaps over there, or Dollface. Take your pick."

They grabbed Colin by the shoulders and stood him up, before moving 'Dollface' and 'Ginger Snaps' to stand next to each other, opposite Colin.

"Go on. Take your pick, look them in the eyes, and tell them how you feel. You could even recite that poetry you've written. But maybe not all the mushy stuff, not all girls are into that. Then, when you've confessed how you feel, ask her out. Tell her to meet you..." They looked at Kim. "Where should he meet her?"

"Say, the astronomy tower or something." They continued, disregarding Kim's reply. "Ooh yes, that'll be really cool. Brush up on your knowledge on the stars, wow her with that."

With a slight smirk diguised cleverly as a grin, they let go of Colin. "Go on. Try it out."

Reducio

Word count: 330

Interacting: @Colin McCoire, @Sophia Nelson, @Kim Sato, @Gemima Sable

Date: 21st May 2022: Around 1.30 pm

Colin smiled when Hunter greeted him with Wolf Boi. He really kind of liked her nickname for him. He wondered why Kim looked so spooked when they greeted each other as friends and why she glared at Kim. Probably Kim did something crazy to her. He gave her a big grin, showing her all his fangs. Nothing unusual there! --- Kim is always doing crazy things to girls! Sophia's introduction of herself to Hunter was a little --- off --- but she said that she and Colin had "talked" before. Yeah, right! If by "talk" you really mean fight! He gave her a look that said, what do you mean, don't ask any questions!

He gave Kim a curious glance as he said "the Ravenclaw" in himself. Colin snorted merrily, nodded at Kim and muttered "Slytherin, more like!"

Colin listened as Sophia ran through her plan with the others. Colin's amazing --- blush! Battle plan --- yep, need that. Talent --- okay. Good heart --- yep, that's me! Handsome --- "Rrk! Sophs, I am not!" Colin thought that she just ignored his protest. Asking her out --- er, Colin tried to focus again. Right. Sable --- wait. Sable? Who is Sable? Both girls had black hair, Hunter and Gem, and even Kim did, under all the pink! Sable could refer to any of them, but since Sophia addressed Kim by name, it must mean either Gem or Hunter.

Hmm. I'll have to ask about that later. But any further consideration of the matter was set aside as Sophia wrapped up the basic plan and Hunter started on details. Colin was getting rather excited about this. He really wanted to talk to Jarael properly. Ask her to go with him. Just be with her. The only problem was he had no idea how to go about it! Magic? That was easy! Girls --- not so much! Poetry, flowers, courting, dating, asking her parents permission --- he'd been barraged by all of those ideas!

He kind of just wanted to shout for joy from the top of the Astronomy Tower, but the thing was, he didn't know how to get himself and Jarael together on the Astronomy Tower in the first place. But now, listening to Soph and Hunter, he was sure they'd cook up some kind of strategy he could use!

He liked how Hunter said that he had "the feels" for Jarael. He had never heard that phrase before, but he seemed to intuitively knew what she meant. Be bold, Hunter said. Straight up ask her. Colin thought about that. He could see the positives in getting to the point. But he also had the feeling that Jarael wouldn't respond to a flat out question like that. Jarael --- Eyes of Sky --- she thought differently. Colin felt that in his heart.

And then Hunter called Sophia and Gem 'Ginger Snaps' and 'Dollface'. Colin laughed and cried out: "Ginger Snaps? Ginger Snaps! That's bloody brilliant!" He turned towards Sophia. "That's better than 'Carrot Cake' isn't it?" He thought about Dollface as he turned towards Gem. He nodded. Yeah, that fit. She was beautiful like a doll.

But he had no time to think further or say anything. Hunter had come over and began yanking him out of his chair as if pulling a weed in her garden. "Yoiks!" he cried; he tried to hook his toes on the armrest of the chair, but Pax just pulled the harder! And then she grabbed Sophs and Gem too!

She finished up outlining her plan and Colin soaked it up! A Brilliant Plan! That's what I've needed! Let's see: Poetry --- right; tell her how I feel --- er, right, I thought that's what the poetry was for, but okay! Ask her to go with me --- easy! He thought. His eyes darted from one friend to the other. He licked his lips a little nervously. He wiggled his toes and took a couple steps closer towards Gem. His breathing slowed and became deep and he felt his eyes go out of focus a bit.

And suddenly the world changed!

Gone was the Library and disappeared were the table and chairs! A windswept shore by the sea there was and Jarael stood before him --- "Eyes of Sky!" he cried out loudly and he took her hands in his and he bowed before her. Of course, he'd forgotten to braid his hair back, so it fell everywhere. He laughed as he straightened up and shook his head like a dog before pushing his hair back behind his shoulders.

He took her face in his hands and confidently cried out: "Blue as the sky are thine eyes, and warm to the touch thy beautiful face, and the breeze blows in from the farthest places over the breadth of Ocean!" Colin tilted her head back --- just slightly --- and leaned in and gave her a nose-doop! He looked into her eyes and smiled. "Green eyes look into blue eyes and wonders they see! Jarael! Eyes of Sky! ---" he fought the tear that threatened to well up in his eye: this is not the time, this is a time to rejoice! "Jarael!" He yelled out her name! He hooked her hair up over her ears. "Come with me, my fairest lady! Up to the highest tower of the Castle! My heart is so full --- ever since the day you first stared at me, and I stared at you. Blue Eyes looked into Green Eyes! Jarael, I --- I love you!" He took her hands again in his and looked into her eyes. "I know that as surely as I know my heart is hammering in my chest! I love you. Go with me to the tower so we can talk and sing to the stars and --- just be? Please?" Colin smiled again, waiting for her response.

And the world shifted again! And gone were the cool sea breezes and the high towered castle. Colin stood in the Library again, and there were the table and chairs and parchments he'd been writing on. And around him were his friends. He held Gem by both hands, and her hair was hooked up over her ears.

He looked first towards Sophia, his sister by choice, and then Hunter and lastly at Gem. Het let go of Gem's hands at last and rocked back and forth on his bare feet, smiling. "Gem? Soph? Hunter? Um. How did I do?"

@Sophia Nelson | @Kim Sato | @Gemima Sable || Mentioning: @Jarael Morningstar

WC: 562 Hex: #433867

Date: May 21, 2022 Outfit: Yellow, no bag

【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】

Gemima watched quietly as everyone else chipped in to the growing conversation.
Colin was a sweet boy, even if he was a little bit odd. He seemed to be very in tune to his emotions, which was something that she respected and admired.
He's like a puppy! she thought, smiling as he leaned into Sophia's ear scratches. The two really did seem close, and their every reaction was heartwarming to witness. Which is why it hurt so much when the redhead referred to her by her surname.

Had they really drifted that far apart? She shrunk back into herself, unconsciously digging her nails into her palms. What had she done wrong? How could she make it right?
Gem took a deep breath, tuning out the others for a few moments as she tried to keep it together. The last thing she wanted was to start crying in front of all her friends. She'd managed to distract herself with schoolwork, books, and her own anger. But now, she was just so tired...

A small shuffling noise drew her attention back to the present.
Colin began inching toward her. Gemima sniffed hard and cocked her head curiously. She instinctively stood up, still concerned for him, but then he sprung forward and grabbed her hands in his own. Gem squeaked in surprise, but Colin just laughed brightly, shaking out his wild black hair.

His hands came up to caress her cheeks, and she thought she might faint on the spot. The waves of melancholy in her stomach were replaced with fluttering butterflies. Her entire body was screaming with confusion, and her heart was booming in her ears, but then Colin looked straight into her eyes.

If Gemima had thought Sophia had beautiful eyes, Colin's were even more so.
While the other girl's green eyes were a soft, calming shade akin to the waving grass on the moor, Colin's were a bright, almost electric green, like fresh limes in summer.
He began to speak, poetry pouring from his lips in brevity. The words weren't directed at her, she knew that, but something bloomed wild in her chest all the same. She was reminded once again how much she was beginning to like this peculiar, zealous boy.

He was like a gale of wind, living his life with all the moxie and joy he could muster. If she had been the girl he loved, then she'd be falling over herself at his feet. How could anyone think differently, what with the sheer amount of passion and warmth that he exuded?

Colin touched his nose to hers, and Gem's face erupted into flames. His fingers threaded themselves through her hair, and tucked a couple of strands behind her ears. Then he stepped back, and it was over. He beamed at her, then at all the others.
"Gem?" he piped up, bouncing on his feet, "Soph? Hunter? Um. How did I do?"

Gemima's face was burning with all the strength of the sun, and her head felt like it was full of cotton wool. But she managed to nod primly at the boy, her lips pressed into a thin line.
"Y-you did great, Col." she croaked. Then she awkwardly loosened herself from his grasp, and collapsed back into her chair. She rested her face in one hand, and fanned herself furiously with the other.

What the hell just happened??

【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】

@Colin McCoire | @Sophia Nelson | @Kim Sato | @Pax Zhang

Sophia winced at Kim's admission of never having confessed to someone before. Of course he hadn't. He was in the closet, and Sophia felt stupid for the implications of her faith in Kim. That didn't lessen her expectations for the boy, however. Even if he'd never confessed to someone, he was still the expert out of the group because, whether he liked it or not, he was charming and charismatic and oh so pretty.

Sophia glanced at Gem with a disgusted glare, turning back to Kim.

"God knows you're definitely good at winning peoples' hearts," she said longingly as she risked a glance at his beautiful blue eyes. She stopped her glance from lingering though. She didn't want to make him feel bad for being unable to return her affections. It wasn't his fault he was gay, and it wasn't his fault he liked Stalker. "I just feel like you can offer advice to Colin on how to charm his way into Jarael's heart."

Sophia was quite fond of the nickname that this newcomer girl offered her. Ginger snaps was adorable, and she did love cookies. Still, she felt a bit embarrassed at the prominence of her red hair when it came to others identifying her. First carrot-head, and now this? She had half a mind to dye her hair black or something, but she knew she'd never have the courage.

Dollface, though? It was so fitting for Gem that Sophia almost felt herself smiling warmly at Gem as she used to do. It was such a perfect nickname for the girl. It fit her adorable face and the fashion style she'd inherited from her mother to a T. Sophia had to mentally pinch herself to avoid wasting time - and what little pride she had - admiring Gem and picturing her as a cute doll.

She couldn't even struggle as this girl with the colorful hair dragged her forcefully to stand beside her. Sable. Sophia stood there uncomfortably close to Gem, the girl that she'd cried with, held tight, and considered to be one of her closest friends. She didn't know why they'd both been chosen for Colin's exercise. One of them was more than sufficient. While Colin seemed to mentally prepare, Sophia crossed her arms, edging away from Gem slightly.

She hated herself for being so negative to her old friend, but every time she looked at the girl, images of Gem and Kim dancing filled her mind and a confused haze of frustration fell over her mind. She missed Gem, sure, but she couldn't bear the feelings Gem was eliciting inside her heart these days. It was much easier to avoid her.

To Sophia disappointment - and relief in a way, since Colin felt like a brother - Colin chose Gem as his target. The relief was gone as Colin seemed to hone in on the girl like a predator hunting its prey in the wild. Sophia blushed and had to clench her fists to keep herself from forcefully pulling her old friend away from the werewolf. Her whole body tensed when Colin tilted Gem's head back and closed the distance between them. Oh gosh, were they going to...? Sophia couldn't stop herself.

"Wait-!" she began, but her fears were for nothing as Colin settled for a nose-to-nose boop.

Sophia sighed out in relief as the tension escaped her body. She could handle watching Colin reciting poetry to Gem, but the thought of them, well, doing that was too much for her to handle. She didn't know why it bothered her, since she definitely didn't have feelings for Colin, but it did. She couldn't stand the thought of seeing Gem kiss Colin. Was she just a bad friend that wanted to see her old friend unhappy? She didn't think so, but why else would it bother her to see her friend being involved with someone?

"Soph? Hunter? Um. How did I do?"

Sophia frowned and bit back a snarky response. She'd already lost Gem as a friend because of her pettiness, she wouldn't lose Colin too.

Still, she couldn't stop the glare and icy sneer she sent in Gem's direction. In fact, she truthfully didn't notice either of them, so focused was she on trying to force the gears in her mind to get back to work at formulating some kind of response to Colin. Something constructive.

Finally, after Gem finished overheating like a combustion engine, Sophia pointedly avoided looking at her, or even acknowledging her existence, as she turned to Colin.

"It wasn't bad," she offered. "But you may want to lay it on less thick. Something like this."

She grabbed Colin's poetry in one hand, walking to Kim and grabbing his right hand with her own. She maintained a delicate hold on the boy's fingers and curtsied lightly, glancing at the paper in her hands.

"If I may, Ms. Jarael?" she began, waiting for a nod of assent from Kim, who she roped into playing the part of this 'Eyes of Sky' girl. She didn't give Kim time to nod or shake his head as she gently kissed his knuckles. Part of her was dying to be flustered by the situation, but the other part knew Kim was gay and didn't allow the reaction from her. Either way, she could certainly appreciate his strong, yet soft, hands in her own and under her lips.

She cleared her throat and began to read:


"Eyes of Green meet Eyes of Blue and
wonders there behold!
Looking out oer isles of barren
stone that secrets hold;
Cast thy glance at eyes of blue and
riddle rune of old;
Gazing far towards island braw in
wide seas where I'm told;
Eyes of Green meet Eyes of Blue and
wonders there behold!"


She was blushing heavily by the end of her recitation, but she had to continue the act.

"Jarael, we've only known each other briefly, but you've awakened feelings in my heart that I never knew existed. I would love the chance to properly court you, if you'd only let me."

It felt awkward confessing to Kim a second time, especially since the first time had been embarrassing enough, but hopefully that demonstration would help with Colin's own confession. The boy had a big heart, but if he shouted so loudly and lost all awareness of the world around him, it was possible he'd scare the girl off. If someone came gunning for her so heavy-handedly, she didn't know if she could handle it.

Sophia turned to Colin and grinned, pretending her cheeks weren't red enough to put Gryffindor to shame. Reluctantly, she let go of Kim's hand and dropped back into her seat.

"See what I mean, Colin? Subtle, but clear. Girls love when you admit your feelings clearly, but you can't be too loud or forceful, and you have to leave the ball in their court. Leave the decision up to her, but don't put too much pressure on her."

Interacting:
@Kim Sato || @Colin McCoire || @Gemima Sable || @Pax Zhang
Mentioning:
@Jarael Morningstar