12 Jun 2022, 19:13
To the Next Great Journey
Miles Thatcher catching up to @Haley Rose
Miles smiled to her, hopefully showing her that he wasn't upset and got up, fake stumbling toward the goblet since she gave him that shove. He got up to the Goblet and looked up at the orange flames before glancing over at some of his fellow Ilvermorny classmates who encouraged him to toss it in. Was he the best candidate for his school? Well, that wasn't really for him to decide. It was all up to some sort of magical enchantment. He looked down to his name, drew in a breath, and let the paper go, watching as it trickled down to the flames. Upon reaching it, the orange flames turned blue. Submission complete.
He turned back around, just as Haley Rose was slipping from the Great Hall. He smiled and ran from where the Goblet was located and followed her out the Entrance and onto the Grounds of the British magical school. "F. Scott Fitzgerald said that 'the girl worth having won't wait for anybody,'" Miles quoted now that he was catching up from the distance between the two. "Granted, he doesn't tell us what he means exactly. Does he mean the girl worth having to supper one night? The girl worth having as part of an excellent friendship? The girl worth having as a future wife? Possibilities are nearly endless."
The weather was absolutely amazing there. Yes, it was mostly always cloudy or rainy but that just meant a better climate for all the vegetation around them to thrive and flourish. He glanced up at the sky and it currently was filled with dark gray clouds. It looked as if it could rain soon but that didn't seem to be stopping the redhead he followed, nor did it cause a bit of hesitation in him.
"You know..." he waited until he finally was caught up with her enough to walk beside her instead of trailing after her. "I meant it. The outdoor excursion idea. I'm game for company if you want... After all, the world waits for no one."
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
12 Jun 2022, 19:48
To the Next Great Journey
@Simon Kincaid as MilesHaley smiled to herself as Miles told her something about an F. Scott Fitzgerald, whoever it was, he seemed like a smart man. She didn't turn around, she kept walking, but she listened to him very carefully. Smiling broadly, which of course the boy couldn't see, she finally said "Sounds like a smart man, that Fitzgerald. And I guess it's up to you to find the answer in those nearly endless possibilities." Her father would probably have been disappointed that Haley didn't know who Fitzgerald was, or at least remembered one of his works, which sat on one of the shelves in his office.
While Haley enjoyed the warm rays of the sun on her skin at all times, so did the same with the cool wind on her skin and the smell in her nose that heralded the rain. The sky was overcast with grey clouds, but the young Gryffindor would never let the possibility of a little rain stop her from having a little adventure and she hoped Miles wouldn't be too fussy about it either. But she would probably find out soon, because everything indicated that the two of them would soon be getting wet.
Haley glanced casually to her right as Miles arrived on a level with her and smiled at him. "I know. That's why we're here." She said it like it was the most natural thing in the world. As if everything was as clear as day and already spoken out. This girl could drive you crazy, but it was just that kind that made her Haley. "The world waits for no one." She agreed, grinning even wider now, her gaze still fixed on him.
She turned her gaze forward again and completely on nothing she suddenly started running. "Come on Miles, the world isn't waiting for us!" she shouted into the cool spring air, holding her arm out behind her and motioning for him to follow her. She would give him the opportunity to grab her by the hand and then pull him along behind her with great momentum. Her laughter echoed through the air and was lost after a few meters in nothingness, without being heard by anyone but Miles. Far and wide there was no one to be seen, only the young adventurous students, a few owls flying in the sky, the grass under their feet, the trees and plants around them and in the distance the big lake.
Haley didn't know what their destination was going to be and so she slowed down a little with each step until she came to a stop. Heavy breathing she still grinned broadly and she knew Miles would think she was crazy, but who didn't? "So what's the plan?" she asked out of breath.
The only one who fear death are those with regrets
12 Jun 2022, 20:03
To the Next Great Journey
Catching breath with @Haley Rose
Seeing her hand outstretched like that, Miles took it and kept running along with her. They passed the dirt path that could eventually take them to Hogsmeade if they should so choose and they passed several large trees that would be good for climbing or to provide shade on a sunny day. They kept on running, toward the direction of the Lake.
Finally she stopped and now he could too and he walked next to her to catch his breath. "I've no plan and no plan to plan," he said, smiling to her. "If I could have my way, we'd go there," he said, pointing to the mountains. He wasn't sure Haley's take on that but he hadn't heard that was off limits. It was the Forbidden Forest that was, well, forbidden, and besides, that didn't interest him much anyway. He had seen so many magical creatures in his lifetime, big and small, that whatever rested iwthin those trees was probably just old news to him. But the mountains offered an invigorating climb and then awestriking views once one reached the summit. "Maybe you can show me what's around the Lake and come morning I might make my way up." It wasn't smart to do at this time of day. They had daylight left, but it wouldn't be by the time he reached the halfway point. If one was going to explore, they had to be smart about it.
"I heard there were grindylows and Scottish selkies in there," and he had come across a grindylow before but never a selkie of the Scottish variety. Miles walked up to the Lake's edge and looked into the mostly calm waters. There were small ripples as some wind began to slowly form due to the rising storm. He looked down, but the darkened water revealed nothing to him.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
12 Jun 2022, 20:26
To the Next Great Journey
@Simon Kincaid as MilesIt was a good sign that Miles was still standing here, laughing with her, not running away. She released her hand from his and propped herself up on her thigh, still recovering from the race. "It's really up to you. See it as a free wish." Miles' time here was limited and he was a guest, so to speak. Haley would of course grant her guest any wish, well almost any maybe.
"Sure we could go there or I show you around the Lake. Whatever your wish is." She winked at him and straightened up again. Her breathing had calmed down in the meantime and her brain was also getting more oxygen again.
She watched Miles and wondered what was going on in his head, what was his wish, what possibilities were buzzing through his brain, but as hard as she tried to read the thoughts, she naturally failed. She could do magic, but reading minds was not one of them.
She followed him to the edge of the lake, it became quiet. He gazed into the water and they both fell silent, embraced by the silence itself. Haley crept quietly up behind Miles. Each step set very carefully on the ground, she dodged every little stick and stone until she was close enough to the boy to suddenly grab him by the shoulders from behind. "WATCH OUT!" she yelled and started laughing, "Or something is going to jump out of the water right into your face."
Haley knew her little jokes were mean, but they were always meant lovingly and so she stood there holding her stomach from laughing so hard. "Oh come on." she knelt down next to the lake, gently stroking the surface with her fingers before dipping her hand once into the water, splashing Miles with a few drops. "You're not going to be afraid of a little water now, are you?" Haley continued to tease the boy and stood back up.
She crept around him in a semicircle, like a lioness around her next victim. "But if you are," She stopped and looked at him sympathetically, "then of course I can understand. After all, it's getting dark as it is." Her gaze now turned towards the sky and she grinned cheekily. "If you prefer we'll go back to the castle." she said again understandingly, but her look said something else. She was challenging him, like that time at the snowball fight. The girl could be cheeky, sometimes too cheeky.
The only one who fear death are those with regrets
13 Jun 2022, 04:44
To the Next Great Journey
Ready for more than just a little time with @Haley Rose
Miles looked over to her and narrowed his blue eyes at her but more playfully than actually annoyed. "I'm hardly afraid of a grindylow or a selkie," he said to her and sighed because that was just crazy thoughts! "But what you, my dear redeaded fox of the British School of Magic must be afraid of, is payback. It'll come. Might not be right now, might not even be tonight - but payback will come knocking at your door."
"I've swam in the waters of the Amazon River, love. I think I could handle a placid little pond in Scotia," he said, using the romanticized version that some sometimes called Scotland. "And we're not going back to the castle. You said to use this as a free wish and my free wish is to spend some more time with you. Our time is now. Right here. Right now," he said as he slowly walked up to her, dramatically like he was going to do something for that revenge he just spoke of but he didn't.
"We're going to stay out here as long as possible," he said. "We can stay out here and get to know one another a little better," and he paused to give a look before starting to smile. Honestly, he wasn't initially trying to come off as a certain way but once he realized that it seemed that way, he couldn't help but go with it.
"Come on, I'll build us a little shelter for when it rains and we can do a sort of truth or dare combined with follow the leader as we go." And he would sort of combine the two games. They could ask each other something and the other then had to ask the same thing in return, or the one would have to do something and the other follow the same action. Miles began to gather some of the sticks that had fallen from a couple of the trees that bordered the Great Lake. "You gather some too and put them there," he pointed to a specific spot, "and tell me, what's your family like?"
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
13 Jun 2022, 11:41
To the Next Great Journey
@Simon Kincaid as MilesThere was a playful smile on Haley's lips. "Mh Payback then." She was still pacing slowly around the boy, her gaze always on him. "I'll wait for the knock." She said challengingly, turning her gaze back to the still water that appeared black in the dusk. "You THINK you can handle this little pond, but can you really? What if the giant squit grabs you by the foot and drags you into the unknown depths of this lake?" Haley sat down at the edge of the lake, she took off her shoes and socks and slowly dipped her feet into the cold water. Goosebumps rose up her body, but after a few seconds she had become accustomed to the cold and with slow movements she made gentle little ripples that fought their way into the middle of the lake until they finally disappeared.
"Your wish shall come true." she laughed, at the same time delighted by Miles' manner. He took the opportunity and put it into action without much thought. He said what he wanted and Haley liked that. "Our time is now." She repeated softly and smiled gently. This day was a pleasant change and it seemed that this company, Miles, was bringing out a side in Haley that had disappeared for a time. It was nice to have it back and Haley hoped she would be able to hold on to it and it wouldn't disappear again.
"That sounds like a good plan." Haley pulled her feet out of the water, dried them a little on the grass and put her socks and shoes back on before standing up with a little jump and tapping her pants off. "Okay, let's go." She did as she was told and started collecting sticks. She was curious how long they would be able to do it unnoticed, until now the redheaded adventurer had always been lucky and not been caught but who knows if that would change today. But she wouldn't worry about that now, problems are only problems when they occur. So there was no problem yet either.
Miles and Haley had a similar mindset and she grinned at the suggestion truth or dare, it could have come from Haley in exactly the same way and of course she was right there with him. "My Family?" She shook her head with a laugh. "Well, there's my father's side. Muggles, warm and funny. They live in Ireland. My father is a doctor and I love him and my mother very much. He taught me so many things and always has my back. My mother and I didn't always have it easy and while she could be rather strict at times, she also has a big heart. Then there's my grandmother, my mother's mother. She's wonderful, you'd like her. She's somehow so young at heart, she's funny and would totally support what we're doing today, even if it's against the rules. She's an excellent seamstress, for every ball she sends me a dress and they're all beautiful. Then I have uncle, aunt and cousins in America. Unfortunately we don't see each other that often but we are always in touch. Ian, the oldest of my cousins, is like a big brother to me. And the rest, they're not worth talking about." She laughed and shrugged. No ten horses would get her to talk about her grandfather. He didn't deserve to be known, let alone have time wasted on him.
"Now it's your turn." Haley said as she threw her collected sticks into a pile.
The only one who fear death are those with regrets
13 Jun 2022, 20:50
To the Next Great Journey
Miles Thatcher talking with @Haley Rose
"Not too much to tell," he said as he began to find some long reed sort of plant nearby and gathered only the fallen stalks which had dried out just slightly. That would be his rope as he began to put the sticks together but mostly they would be supporting themselves. "Alright, now began to gather lots of leaves. Not fresh leaves! Let the plants live, but the fallen brown ones and bring them over here."
Now about his family. "Well, both of my parents descend from pureblooded families and we've been in the States since the Salem days but that was all such nonsense so we've moved out to the other side of the country along the Pacific Northwest coastline. It's beautiful there," but she hadn't asked about where he lived, did she?
Family, back to family. "They're both magizoologists that travel the globe and write books. That's why we were at Diagon Alley that day, for a book signing," and his tone alone demonstrated how dreadfully boring that was.
"They're...both very particular. They want things their way and perfectly their way. Don't breathe wrong around those two," he shook his head. They were so critical all the time. "Besides them, I've got my Gran. Many times I stay with her while they're off on their excursions, especially now that I've got to devote more time to my studies being in school and all." Before that he was tutored. "She's amazing and she's like a phenomenon when it comes to Potions. She cultivates the plant based ingredients and collects. I learned a lot about ecology from her. And then there's Lissa, she's a house elf that lives with us."
Right there was perhaps hint that Miles wasn't the normal 'stuck up pureblood' because he didn't claim that his had HAD a house elf, or that they owned one, he just introduced her as Lissa, the elf that lived with them. Lissa was fun and Lissa was a friend, and she just happened to live there and assisted his grandmother.
"No siblings. No aunts. No uncles. No cousins.”
He gathered some grass and leaves and got to work placing it along just the right places of his structure. When he'd finished, he'd have something at resembled a tent.
"It's called a leaf hut. What do you think? Just like magic, huh?” He smiled. Nature was a lot like magic in his mind.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
14 Jun 2022, 12:02
To the Next Great Journey
@Simon Kincaid as MilesHaley did as she was told and started picking up leaves from the ground. Out of the corner of her eye she watched Miles start to handle the sticks and in a way she was impressed. "Here are the leaves." She said as she placed them in a small pile next to the busy boy and continued to listen to him quietly. He had so many interesting things to say, when she heard that his parents were magizoologists she wanted to grill him about everything he knew. She would have loved to make an appointment with his parents directly. She really wanted to read one of their books, but Haley bit her lips. She could hardly imagine what it must be like to live with famous parents. Surely he had enough of all that already and so she stifled all the questions that were on the tip of her tongue.
"I guess we both have great grans." She grinned at him and finally surveyed his finished work. "Well, I must say Miles. You have a talent." Carefully, the red-haired girl shook the construct and it held. "It's perfect." Her excitement was written all over her face and she took a step to the side, "After you sir." She made a hand motion and gestured for the boy to step forward, after all he had to check out his masterpiece from the inside too.
"Ready for the next question?" Haley pondered for a moment. There were many things she wanted to know, after all she had to get to know Miles fundamentally first and so she thought a little at a time until she thought she had found a good question. "If you could change one thing in your life, what would it be?" she watched him intently, she wanted to see his reaction to the question and much more to hear his answer to it. This wasn't a question that you just answered, no yes or no, no good or bad. It was a question whose answer had to be considered.
The only one who fear death are those with regrets
17 Jun 2022, 14:21
To the Next Great Journey
Walking and talking with @Haley Rose
Miles came inside the small enclosure that was built. Normally he might have said 'ladies, first' an encouraged her inside first but he did want to make sure it was structurally sound before she entered so he came inside and made sure there was room for her to follow as he pushed up on the top of the branches, ensuring that none of the big ones would slip and fall. All seemed well and secure.
"If I could change just one thing..." he paused, really thinking it over. It was crazy how the mind could think about several things at once, or so it seemed, and something did come to mind pretty quickly and pretty deeply but he wasn't sure it was something to say out loud. While he trusted Haley not to be going and blabbing about his personal issues to anyone else, they were personal and he wasn't really the type to be sharing them. Miles was the type that kept things inside because stating such downfalls was an equivalent to making his family look bad but also somehow was a form of self defeat. He needed to be stronger than that.
"Uh," he paused, realizing he was taking a little longer to do this. "Maybe I'd go blond or something, maybe see what life as a redhead was like," he smiled to her and then climbed back out the opening of the hut. "Come on, let's go for a walk. The rain isn't here yet." Although he could tell by the breeze that had picked up, the darker clouds, the drop in temperature - it was close. Too close. Honestly, they should just remain in that small little hut for the next hour or so because at this rate they wouldn't even make it back to the Castle dry but Miles saw no harm in getting a little wet. After all, he had contemplated pushing her into the Great Lake not long before....
As she too came back to where he was, he realized he was doing no good in making new connections if he was going to lie or sugar-coat things. Lying and sugar-coating was what he did with his parents who he had established a superficial and uninspiring relationship with that left much to be desired and he didn't really need to keep extending that out to others.
"I'd change my parents. Not...who they are, characteristically or anything. They seem perfectly happy with their choice in each other and their lifestyle but I mean actual different individuals. Different people. A different family. I was just some incident for them that occurred and they did their best to make sure it didn't impede with their life. I'm there when they can show off some other aspect of themselves to others, when they need a family when otherwise - I'm either a burden to them or an afterthought. Nothing more." He truly had never felt love coming from either of his parents. If, the slim times they did get along, he felt like a colleague with them on a business adventure, never more.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
19 Jun 2022, 19:18
To the Next Great Journey
@Simon Kincaid as MilesHaley followed Miles without comment, more concerned with his evasive answers. Had her question been too personal? Had she misjudged the whole situation between them? How should she interpret his behaviour? Was it cowardly of him or did he just want to avoid an unpleasant situation? Questions over questions, thoughts over thoughts. Haley tried not to make too much of it and finally chuckled, "Well, I don't want to hurt your feelings but redhead? No way would that look good on you." Haley nudged him lightly when she got to his level and winked, "Brown suits you, you shouldn't change that." She said with a smile on her lips before turning her gaze forward again.
Completely surprised, he still decided to give her his true answer and after listening to his answer quietly, she felt bad. She didn't want him to have to worry about such things when they were supposed to be having fun. She never would have expected such a response, but really, that was the thing about this game. Haley chewed her lip nervously, it hurt to hear how Miles felt. She didn't know his parents and she didn't want to say that it certainly wouldn't, because she couldn't judge. She stopped inside for a moment and held him gently by the arm. She looked into his eyes and it was obvious that he really did feel as he had described. "Miles..." she began to speak, but didn't really know what to say. She fell silent for a moment and looked down at her feet. She gently stroked his arm as if to comfort him. "I'm sorry." She breathed softly and looked up again. "You are not a burden to me." She said half-smiling, knowing it wouldn't make him feel any better, even though that was exactly what she wanted.
Carefully she nodded her head forward and her feet went back into motion. "Now, would you like to ask me the same question or do you prefer a dare?" She tried to change the subject and somehow make it so that she could cheer him up. She hoped very much that her question had not ruined their time together.
The only one who fear death are those with regrets