Dear Flash | Sincerely, Evelynn PV Reopened

SENT: April 11, 2022 ─ Delivered by Janus

Dear Flash,

I can understand your preference for self-reliance and appreciate how difficult it is to reach out for assistance. I am much the same way. It has always really only been you with whom I felt comfortable entrusting the trove of everything we have uncovered. But I am attempting to get better in that regard as well. I will not admit to having been terribly successful in that effort, but it is what it is, I suppose. Many of those whom I had thought trustworthy have demonstrated themselves to be compromised in one way or another. It had been difficult to reconcile that.

I do not believe I meant anything specific by catching up, however. Obviously a great deal of time has passed since we were investigative about the hags, and I my knowledge of events was effectively cut off the moment you received the eye. Of course I am aware of at least some of the events of Samhain, the incident with Anderson and Gray at the tea, as well as Marion's presence at the Midspring Festival. Sometimes it feels as though we may actually have something of a reprieve from it all. But then Marion will show up again, and it leads me to wonder if I am just entirely in the dark about it all, or if this is some sort of calm before a storm.

But of course, I also mean catching up personally. I realize we have never been terribly close on that front, but I would not be opposed to it. I do apologize about the game against Slytherin. Unfortunately, we could not possibly have let the game draw out for long without risking a loss against you all. It wasn't enough to beat Ravenclaw either, but there is always next year. And you flatter me too much. I am no more a star than the moon.

I think it is nice that you are looking in to getting a pet. I know little to nothing about the care of rats, but I understand them to be quite intelligent, all things considered. Perhaps you could train it to be useful in some way. And it is small enough that you could bring it with you more easily than many of the other options. As for Janus, he has never been upset about the standard owl treats at the store. I hope you are enjoying your time with your brother. Will you be there for the duration of the summer? I gather his name is Valerius? I don't believe I've heard you make mention of your family much before.

And I know it is difficult to wear the patch. It's a shame there isn't a better, less obvious way to go about it, such as a contact with an opaque pupil or something similar. But I do believe you are doing the right thing by it. It is a step, at the very least. I'm not sure if Marion is going to another school, but I have my doubts. I have the lingering feeling that she simply waits in the forest and emerges when she so desires. Those with whom you have spoken.. I do not know them all terribly well, but I had been planning to speak with Burnett. I just.. have yet to find the right time. Do you believe he can be trusted?

I hope you enjoy your holidays. If you would like to remain in contact over them, you can address the letters to the school. I did not return home on this occasion.

Affectionately,
Evelynn

@Flash Holmwood

Dear Evelynn,
It is hard to trust anyone these days. It makes me grateful that we found one another. I was going out on a limb when I told you everything I knew before the secret Blossom Ball, but I haven't ever regretted it. Now that I think of it, knowing you better, I am surprised when I think about how you invited me to go with you after only having met once. Then again, I was also very different during my first year, back then I was so obsessed with propriety. Did you know I turned down an offer to go with Rafael because you had asked me first? I don't think I would change anything if I could turn back time, your friendship is worth its weight in gold. I do believe I still owe you a dance, however.

As for happening around school, I admit I have struggled to confront it. I have devoted most of my energy to just staying alive. Before Valentines day, I had been blissfully unaware of this slug business. I can tell you everything I am able to, though.

Uvrvgx fin thjxcl jug ly zm v hny, yd kjueko. Qpz izhvyvoeq s mszneq wic qi ml kustg aav wyzfeq ei apzsg osrp ohr kkkm nyztyj bcag Lrmuvs Ywcrzvntw ryl. D tnducl oo uaw yjjug ad, yvy hr eolbdoawn Qiitnjsm Uvrgax ya reyd, lsb D db fyr sioj orw, mscrhd rpvt gzo rej os lrcu reew ppqznqk, kll nhr zkb jzea smrqig flbyvbeyq. Sl nvcg, Kklbvrvg kll Brnq gczz ayky atjsr, ky G xmefmwc qo if kykmohvfq rw yo jadf bcefw cjcbs. Sjyk ecag dsrbge V'no fmvrq slmco wusd fikprfob io Sneryqi (I usn zmzn cjomkxucaob edtu lrc nvlywx rmit, V zkb vjt fwol iiy bx sr) Mmia Jiyv caq tocv dnswmrmy wvlr rpzm. Fg, sr ejuyv ccmh tuwi yzz teqslo oo pdkgu nthvolbn bl dstqig vfcglz tuww.

Hcmgrf Rcan if lrc vvmr gp y aouqwxr eco jsc fmgpvfq Kimibf dfm yal A gya vtgsmimy. I qgx'r sioj orm pz if, ter pz cysskmy a ewvybdoakrgx oo Rjsl, iid fssb pz ialollzd gg ugtg hrj, gfqxh vk gfg D hnv slbzriwxcl. D shkzcko hr oklbzd gg ugtg hrj lckvufw yd bce fdeea dnpmlybdnt axqqye bx rcz, wug A nmv'o kagg rpvt sgb qcme.

Iamrwm Mbgbc qn drsn, qw yoa'l lmbcee dymsdnt xyp pdm. Qgx'r ink zw rme D kagg, yvy dbf'd rmgl nfimvz ybm ulwr. Wuwx Kimibf kpzdvrv kr bce osvj, ace gselbzd zw kzwpt zq owm, vnq ad aihe gg zyan tusd qpz hnv lcmi tndugvb tb Tepvztg ax nzdvnlo zmaoew dfio. Is zop qitrfdgwi wnk dm bpra Tepvztg sqyqisg eo, gb yiqf'd uwmk, omd gn nhr oklbzd zw dm sioj ei cgz wnk mszneq, lrcv D cnf'd qit I xfyu ecy.

As for the rest, I actually have my rat now. I named him Nicodemus, after a character in a book called 'Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH' by Robert C. O'Brien. I don't know if you've heard of it, but it is an interesting one if you are ever looking for something of the sort. Valerius is indeed my oldest brother, I'm only in his flat for Easter holiday though, I won't be returning, he is far too busy to host me regularly, but I'm grateful he has set this time aside for me. I have a large family, actually. After Valerius, my brother Darius was born. He was a Gryffindor and owns the show horse Asha if you've ever heard of it. After him, my older sister Marius was born, though she never went to Hogwarts, by nature of being born a squib. Then there was me, and my younger brother Fabius. Do you have any siblings?

As for your question, I believe Burnett can be trusted. I have roomed with him these last three years, and I deem him to be genuine and caring, no matter how he squanders it with his antagonism. I think he does it to protect his heart, so you could say he perhaps cares too much. I trust him to listen to logic, as he did when I explained myself after our fight. He is a good person. You are as well.

With love,

OOC: Delivered by Valerius' owl Fortuna after breakfast on April 12th.
Plain text for ease of moderation:

Reducio

Dear Evelynn,
It is hard to trust anyone these days. It makes me grateful that we found one another. I was going out on a limb when I told you everything I knew before the secret Blossom Ball, but I haven't ever regretted it. Now that I think of it, knowing you better, I am surprised when I think about how you invited me to go with you after only having met once. Then again, I was also very different during my first year, back then I was so obsessed with propriety. Did you know I turned down an offer to go with Rafael because you had asked me first? I don't think I would change anything if I could turn back time, your friendship is worth its weight in gold. I do believe I still owe you a dance, however.

As for happening around school, I admit I have struggled to confront it. I have devoted most of my energy to just staying alive. Before Valentines day, I had been blissfully unaware of this slug business. I can tell you everything I am able to, though.

[IN CODE] Marion has turned out to be a hag, of course. She implanted a cursed eye in my skull and marked my chest with the same symbol that Thomas Lestrange had. I talked to him about it, and he mentioned Santario Martin as well, but I do not know why, except that the two of them were friends, and she had been acting strangely. In fact, Santario and Gray were also close, so I presume it is something to do with these slugs. From what little I've heard about what happened at Samhain (I had been preoccupied with the fallen tent, I had not seen any of it) Erin Ryan had been infected with them. So, it would seem they are trying to claim students by living inside them.

Jurgen Hess is the name of a student who was helping Marion the day I was attacked. I don't know who he is, but he claimed a relationship to Erin, and said he intended to kill her, which is why I had intervened. I suspect he wanted to kill her because of the slugs incubating inside of her, but I don't know that for sure.

Victor Moore is dead, so don't bother looking for him. Don't ask me how I know, and don't tell anyone you know. When Marion arrived at the ball, she taunted me about my eye, and it came to pass that she had been talking to Burnett in private before that. If her intention was to turn Burnett against me, it didn't work, but if she wanted me to know my eye was cursed, then I can't say I know why. [/CODE]

As for the rest, I actually have my rat now. I named him Nicodemus, after a character in a book called 'Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH' by Robert C. O'Brien. I don't know if you've heard of it, but it is an interesting one if you are ever looking for something of the sort. Valerius is indeed my oldest brother, I'm only in his flat for Easter holiday though, I won't be returning, he is far too busy to host me regularly, but I'm grateful he has set this time aside for me. I have a large family, actually. After Valerius, my brother Darius was born. He was a Gryffindor and owns the show horse Asha if you've ever heard of it. After him, my older sister Marius was born, though she never went to Hogwarts, by nature of being born a squib. Then there was me, and my younger brother Fabius. Do you have any siblings?

As for your question, I believe Burnett can be trusted. I have roomed with him these last three years, and I deem him to be genuine and caring, no matter how he squanders it with his antagonism. I think he does it to protect his heart, so you could say he perhaps cares too much. I trust him to listen to logic, as he did when I explained myself after our fight. He is a good person. You are as well.
With love,
Flash

@Evelynn Decipio