Welcome to my world PV Flash Holmwood Closed

Dated: August 27th, 2022
★

Shortly after Flash had received the tickets by owl, he had planned his trip. He was used to traveling and navigating the train systems by now, so a trip to Chester would be simple. He had to excuse himself from his volunteer work for the weekend, and needed to ask his sister for the money needed for the travel both ways, as well as a place to stay. She had agreed, but only on the condition that she be his guardian for the trip. After their previous conversation, it was clear that she wanted to use the opportunity to isolate and question him. This was a precarious moment in their relationship, and both had much to explain. Clearly he would rather read a book on a train alone, but he was not an adult yet, and therefore could not argue his right to. He agreed, not as intimidated by the inevitable confrontation as he had been to previous family discussions. She found a way to corner him, and he found something worth the price of his information.

After that long car ride, and the settling in at the hotel, they would then need to get ready for the event in the evening. Both of them were efficient at unpacking and dressing up, Marius having been his teacher on such things. During his childhood, she had been his mother, his tutor, and his role model. Now that he was older, he couldn't help but see a side of her he had ignored before, at the stubborn bequest of her need to maintain an image of strength. He ought to have realized that the bad habits he had learned to shed-- his insistence on appearing perfect, and never showing any vulnerability-- had been taught to him by her. In a way, her ruthlessness impressed him, knowing how much pain she must have endured to have as much power as she does. Still, what was it good for if it was so easy for everything to fall apart? Perhaps Flash was too young to understand. That, or Marius was not a good role model.


Besides, nearly all of his thoughts were on Eun-ji. He was tired, even stressed from the constant need to appease his family, but a flame inside of him kept him sane and focused. He was eagerly looking forward to getting to watch Eun-ji perform. Her letters had brought him such levity, and he could feel himself getting unusually impatient to be by her side. He was already an enthusiast of the arts, dance being one he found greatly fascinating. The combination of expression of music through athleticism appealed to him on many levels already, but the fact that there was so often an element of storytelling as well would make it easy for Flash to pay attention the whole way through, no mater his exhaustion.

He would arrive early, a bouquet purchased for the occasion. He was no stranger to theater productions, and knew it was customary for friends of the performers to bring flowers. More than that, he knew how Eun-ji loved them. He asked for his sister's advice, which she offered thoughtfully alongside his own recommendations for ones with the most pleasant scent. She was tactful, unlike Darius, not drawing attention to his reasons for going out of his way for such a last minute trip. She showed her hand as little as possible, at all times. Perhaps it was an unavoidable trait as a Holmwood. The two of them would first drop off the bouquet with the staff member who would drop the flowers off at her dressing table. There would be a note attached with only a very brief message: 'Thank you for inviting me. -Flash'

Once they reached the row that was meant to have their seats, Flash was surprised to be greeted by a gentleman in a suit, clearly not one of the theater attendants. He shook Flash's hand, greeting him and revealing his identity. It was none other than Eun-ji's father, an unexpected encounter, no doubt due to the spontaneous nature of his attendance. Flash was able to keep his calm, exchanging his own polite introduction. His sister would help as well, a mature and professional socialite who was accomplished at striking the perfect first impression. Far from being from a pureblooded family, the only reason he would have to recognize the name Holmwood would be their association with purebred horses or their recent foray into fundraiser events.

Marius understandably did not spend much time in the wizarding world, in no small part due to the recent controversies surrounding squib rights. Flash practically envied her of that, though it was hard for him to regret ever going to Hogwarts. He had never before made such meaningful friends, been challenged and supported so strongly. He had much to be thankful for, curse or not. His expression would show that he was exactly where he wanted to be, especially in the way he sought out his seat quickly, no thought to anything around him besides to look through the playbill to spot which sequences Eun-ji was dancing in.

Once the show started, he would sit quietly in rapt attention. He paid little mind to whatever Marius and Doctor Lee were up to, instead letting himself become immersed in the performance. He always did try to surround himself with things he found enjoyable, as ascetic as he was, but he was still too young to fully understand what made him feel passionate. Life was always in such a hurry, and there was such little time for self-discovery in the chaos of it. As he watched Eun-ji come out onto the stage and look at him directly, he could feel the profound satisfaction it gave him deep in his chest, almost painfully so. He would smile uncontrollably, his face warm and cheeks hurting from the lasting impression it gave him.

From then on, there were other dances where she was not present, as he was told to expect. He was able to remain engaged, having not seen much live ballet yet in his life. He was so inexperienced as to not realize the difference between the more classical and modern dance forms. It was certainly a world away from the ballroom dances that he was used to, with a far greater display of acrobatics and poise. He would at times need to close his eyes and knead his temples, his weariness making it hard to keep his eyes focused for long without causing a small headache. Thankfully with small breaks and a bottle of water he brought, he was able to stay lucid and fully enjoy her final piece.

For that one, though, he would be confronted with an entirely different set of uncomfortable feelings. While she had danced with a partner, or several dancers, in close quarters before, this particular dance seemed somehow... much more physical. He could not place it, but it made him feel conflicted. He could no longer focus on the artistic expression on display, but rather where the dancer's hands were on Eun-ji's body. It had never been an issue he had while watching dancers before, but whatever it was, it made his face flush. He could not look away, even though something in him felt like he should. He could feel his mind wander, thinking of his own hands upon her instead. It was a bit more challenging than he had expected to keep his attention in line. He would inevitably end the show feeling somewhat overwhelmed, yet refreshed. He had been shut in most of the last two months, it was nice to feel a thrill again, even if it was tied to bashfulness. He would feel uncharacteristically shy when she looked at him again at the final bow, but he did not look away.


Being able to stand up and stretch gave him some quick relief, and the two Holmwoods would follow Doctor Lee's cue to move to a spot to receive Eun-ji once she was free. She was accompanied by the ballerino from the last piece, to whom Flash felt some undeserved resentment. He would would watch him with a blank face, paying note to his mention of her hand and her father's keen interest in it. Somehow Flash had been so distracted that he had not even noticed she got hurt. Another uncomfortable feeling. Why was he acting so irrationally all of the sudden?

After he left, Eun-ji immediately turned to Flash, and his irritation was gone. His smile returned, not one of politeness, but of pride. "Me too." Why did he feel like laughing? He didn't usually feel this level of happiness without the specter of fear clouding it, the fear that it would all inevitably be ruined. He didn't know how Eun-ji was able to make him feel momentarily carefree, but he liked it. "You were fantastic. What a show!"

Flash would be at a bit of a loss, but he tried. He wanted to reach out and embrace her, wanted to know that her injury was alright, and catch up about everything. How was he supposed to fit that all in during this short amount of time? He found himself already regretting that they would need to part again so quickly. Before he could recover from his preteen fluster, Marius would add her own appraisal.

"When Demetrius told me we would be seeing a show from one of his classmates, I did not realize it would be such a high end production. I am very impressed." She would smile, standing tall and keeping to herself behind the group, knowing that was her place.

She was trying to give Flash a moment to collect his thoughts and fill the silence, but Flash would shoot her a hurt glare. Certainly she had to know that he had been going by 'Flash' at school for three years, it was even the name he offered to Eun-ji's father. Did it slip her mind, or did she never take it seriously in the first place? Like with their mother, was 'Flash' too embarassing a name to say out loud? Regardless, Flash wouldn't want to make a big deal about it, not when Eun-ji deserved all of the attention.

Blue in English, Red in Korean/ Other people: Violet in Korean, Bold in English

The Slytherin complimented her performance with utmost sincerity. Because of course he did. If there was anyone among her friends who could truly appreciate dance and art in general, it was Flash. This however, was not just any kind of simple observation. This compliment belonged to her exclusively and as that thought occurred to her, she could feel a faint blush creeping up into her cheeks. “Thank you that means a lot...coming from you.” She shifted on her feet nervously. The last part was voiced quietly so that only he could hear. Truth to be told, the ballerina was filled with joy just seeing him stand in front of her now. She was always happy to spend some time with him but this was different. School was school. They both had to go there and so it made sense to meet and talk occasionally but today, he came here just for her. It was almost overwhelming feeling and she wasn't quite sure what to do with it. Thankfully, before she could ponder about it too much, her friend’s company decided to chip in, successfully bringing her back to reality.

Eun-ji surveyed the blonde woman. She was beautiful. Was it his sister? It appeared the handsome genes run in the family. “That’s very kind of you to say. Chester is definitely not lacking when it comes to talented people and everybody generally tries their best to make any event memorable. My name is Eun-ji by the way, though I suspect you already know that. It's a pleasure to meet you.” She offered the woman her hand, electing to completely ignore the name besides secretly giving her friend fleeting smile filled with understanding. Even if words weren't used, it was clear to her that Flash was not amused and she did indeed understand said feeling perfectly. The Hunts still used her old name from time to time and she hated it. Perhaps for different reasons but still. Demetrius… While she knew Flash was not his actual name, she never dared to question what was. He seemed uncomfortable when it came to that subject and so she decided not to pry. It doesn’t suit him, Eun-ji decided almost immediately. Maybe if she didn’t know the boy, she’d think it was a good fit but she did know him and unless he himself changed his mind about it, he would always be Flash to her.

“Ah Flash…” The witch said as if she suddenly remembered something. The use of his name at that very moment was intentional though it wasn't done in a way one could tell. Well, perhaps the boy in question could but the rest would probably see it as a spontaneous reaction. “I've got the flowers. Thank you, they are lovely.” She opted to divert the conversation elsewhere. As she said this, she finally turned to look at her father. He too, brought her some and while Flash might have been her main focus tonight, she didn't have the heart to ignore her father's presence altogether. The man smiled somewhat warily as he handed her the bouquet. It was the same one her grandpa always brought as a congratulatory gift, making her hesitate for a second before she finally took it. Eun-ji appreciated the gesture but it also made her heart ache somewhat terribly. It was the first performance the old man couldn't show up for. “GomawoThank you,” she expressed her gratitude eventually, recognising his act as a promise that he would take over the tradition now that her grandpa couldn’t. The doctor nodded without any further comments and tapped her left hand, which Eun-ji gave him absentmindedly. He would prod and bend it with an unmistakable doctor touch, while frowning and cataloguing her every reaction. There would be no sound coming out of her to aid him, in fact she took the opportunity to give her full consideration back to her guest. It has been years since she last cried due to physical pain but at this point her dad was skilled enough to read the subtlest signs without her really paying attention to him.

“Was the journey okay? How long are you staying? Just until tomorrow?” The witch inquired curiously. The Slytherin would probably tell her in advance if he was staying longer, yet she couldn’t help but ask anyway. It was not as if she could parade herself around the town with him. The Hunts were still in Chester and she didn’t want them to meet Flash but she allowed her imagination to run wild for a second. How nice would it be. Somewhere beside her, her dad let out a resigned sigh and let go of her hand. Probably reaching the same conclusion as her that the wrist was sprained at worst and they would just deal with it at home. If it were anything more serious, he would be dragging her away already but as it was , the man obviously decided not to lecture her and took a few steps towards the blonde woman instead. He was giving her and Flash some space to talk while he'd entertain the other guest. Eun-ji made a mental note to thank him for that later.

“You look a bit tired. Are you going to be okay?” The Ravenclaw asked once she was sure the two adults weren’t listening. The boy in front of her looked as handsome as ever to her but it now occurred to her that the performance wasn’t necessarily short and having just one eye in addition to his insomnia couldn’t have made things easy for him. Why didn’t she think of that until now? Was her selfish desire to see him so strong that she forgot to care about his well-being? “Still can’t sleep?” There was no pity in her voice and she made sure his sister didn’t hear. Eun-ji knew pity was probably the last thing he needed so she kept her voice light and unbothered. It would be hard to look grim, considering how excited she was to see him anyway.

@Flash Holmwood

No matter how short and lacking in detail his review had been, it appeared as though Eun-ji was able to sense his enthusiasm. It felt as though she was able to read the subtlest of clues in his demeanor and words, a relief for someone who put so much effort into trying to say the right thing. With her, there was always so much that could be left unsaid, yet so much he wanted to say. Even her gratitude seemed to imply she trusted his good taste, a flattery that caught him off guard. They would have to both suffer a red face, being of the age in which it was hard realize that they had been flirting inadvertantly for a long time at that point.

Before he could make a fool of himself by staring, his sister congratulated Eun-ji, to which she would seemlessly continue the conversation. Flash took the opportunity to regain his composure, running his hand through his hair and taking a deep breath. Eun-ji would call for him directly after, thanking him for the flowers. It was nice to hear his name again, he could tell in the way she looked at him that she was making a point. "Marius Holmwood-Cargrove."

He had not expected her to illuminate his sister's faux pas so boldly, though it said a lot about her character. She was not someone who timidly accepted authority, something Flash admired in her. "Well, I had a good time picking them out." He would smile is introspective reverie, imagining what it would be like to have gone flower shopping with Eun-ji instead of Marius. He woud need to abandon his increasingly imaginative mind after Eun-ji had finished gathering her flowers from her father. It seemed his attention then turned to Marius, almost as though he was giving the two of them time to themselves. If so, he was a far more tactful and considerate person than his own father, who would not even entertain the idea of joining him on a weekend outing.

"Well... I can't say I enjoyed the ride over." He didn't want to dwell on it, so he quickly moved on. "Just tonight, I'm afraid. We're leaving early tomorrow morning. Marius needs to be back at the stables, it's her job. Well. My job too, I guess."

As he thought about it-- how Marius wanted to be back in the Lake District by 8 AM, meaning they had to be packed and ready by 5:45-- he could feel the tiredness behind his eyes like a brick to the skull. He would involuntarily start to rub his eyes again, recieving an immidiate response from his attentive companion. Flash looked beyond her at the two adults for a brief moment before another sigh escaped him.

"Yes." He would solemnly admit it, dread dripping from the word. "I've been trying everything I can find to do. I'm... just getting whatever sleep I can..."

His eyes would be cast aside as he tried to explain it, ashamed for causing her concern. Had he never encountered that wretched hag, he would be able to stand beside her as a young man full of promise. Instead, he was a nearly hollowed out shell of a boy, trying to hold on to his humanity for as long as his grip would last. He tried to avoid thinking about it, he tried to imagine that somehow he would avoid his gruesome fate, but it was just the delusion of the sleep deprived. Instead of miring himself in darkness, he let himself look back into Eun-ji's eyes. All that mattered was the present, anyway.

"I wasn't aware how demanding ballet was. It must have taken an immense amount of practice." Flash spoke his mind freely and easily, coming from a person who knew how disiplined one had to be to accomplish such a high level of skill. "You get hurt often, don't you?"

Flash was reminded about how they first met, smiling as he watched her face to determine if he had intuited correctly. His eyes would stray to her free hand, wishing he could heal her quickly. It was inconvienient not only to be in a muggle space, but even if they had been truly alone, he would likely get flagged for underage magic. In that way, and in the way he wasn't allowed to travel on his own, made him wish he could grow up already The world had forced him to act like an adult and be mature, yet he had no rights against his family's will.

"I wish I could have seen your greenhouse, or Ye-jun." Flash would begin to ramble. "Or Morgana, of course."

Blue in English, Red in Korean/ Other people: Violet in Korean, Bold in English

Eun-ji would be lying if she said she wasn’t at all curious about the older woman. It was a golden opportunity to get to know somebody Flash grew up with. And yet… in her mind, there was not enough time to do so. Sure, she would see the Slytherin again soon but so many people at school desired his company, it was hard to talk to him alone. Ultimately, the boy was the one she invited here and whom she wanted to see the most. This is why Eun-ji opted not to ask Marius any further questions and let her dad take over instead. She would be in good hands with him.

The Ravenclaw barely stopped the heavy sigh, threatening to escape her lips. She didn’t want to dampen the mood so she simply nodded in understanding. Still, deep down, she couldn’t help worrying as she listened to her friend’s reply. “Your eyes must hurt quite a bit…” she commented softly, watching him rub them. Something he probably did often now. “…a warm compress helps a lot. I do it sometimes when I stay up too late reading or studying.” Offering advice was her go to. Flash already knew as much so he would surely forgive her for being nosy. Not that she thought herself being very helpful. On the contrary, Eun-ji found it incredibly frustrating how little she could do for him. He must have been so exhausted and she couldn’t come up with a single solution that would help him sleep. Or well...at least not one he hadn’t already thought of himself. No matter, this was not the time nor place to discuss the effects of the curse. They could do that later when they were truly alone and only if he wanted to. Eun-ji told him she was there to listen anytime he needed it and she meant it with every fíbre of her being.

The topic was soon steered back to her passion and she took the bait without any hesitation. More than happy to stop picking at his distress. “Well…yes, I suppose I do. It is a bit strange actually. I mean I seldom get hurt outside of ballet. I’m usually careful not to get injured for fear that I won’t be able to dance and yet somehow during practice or any kind of performance, that fear just…goes away completely.” Eun-ji answered his question thoughtfully. “I think sometimes I have trouble knowing my own limits.” She admitted eventually. The Ravenclaw knew this to be true but she never really said it aloud. Her parents were aware of course but that was because they were always the ones to take care of the aftermath. It was also precisely, why her mother forced her to rehearse at the Hunts residence instead of building her a practice room at home, where she was mostly left to her own devices. “Then again, it’s not all bad. I got to meet you that way so I feel rather fortunate.” The young ballerina smiled as she said this. First and foremost, she wanted to lighten up the mood however she was also being sincere. Eun-ji wasn’t someone who made friends easily and often needed push in the right direction in order to talk to someone new. If a bleeding foot was the right kind of push to help her meet Flash, she’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.

“I wish I could have seen your greenhouse, or Ye-jun.” The girl smiled and unconsciously reached her hand to fix Flash’s rustled hair. A feathery touch she wasn’t even properly aware of until her fingers brushed against his forehead. She was about to apologise when he finished his rambling. “Ah,” her shoulders slumped involuntarily. Morgana… Everybody at home tried to avoid that subject to the best of their capabilities. It was just her luck that the one person who wasn’t naturally fond of animals would end up being the one to bring her up. Eun-ji’s smile faltered for a split of a second before gathering herself again. “No need to worry. The greenhouse has a long way to go. The flowers are still babies. You can always visit next time and you’ll get to see Ye-jun soon I’m sure. He will be at Hogwarts for the Fall ball.” She paused then, not really sure how to go about the last bit. She didn’t want to lie and say her furry friend ran away. The witch didn’t want to deceive Flash, considering how much he shared with her so far and as strange others might find it, she also didn’t want to do Morgana injustice. That would be terribly unfair even if he didn’t know her. “As for Morgana...someone took her from our yard this summer so…I don’t think you will be able to meet her...Sorry.” Her voice didn't waver but her right hand started picking on the bouquet flower petals absentmindedly.

Technically, what she said was one hundred percent true. She simply omitted the fact that she knew who took her. How could she possibly tell him that her own grandfather did it? What would he even do with that information? He couldn’t really solve it for her. He would be just as tortured by his helplessness as she was when it came to him. Eun-ji didn’t want that for Flash. He had enough on his plate as it was. He deserved every bit of happiness he could get and if she couldn’t be that for him, the least she could do was not add to his worries. Yeah...she could definitely do that.

@Flash Holmwood

As usual, Eun-ji was prompt with advice to make him feel better. Something about the way she delivered it was always unassuming and matter-of-fact. He was comforted by that aura of politeness, the careful interpretation of body language with tact. Regardless of how the two had been raised, their had at the very least been instilled with similar values when it came to taking care of others.

"Alright, I'll give that a try." A comforted smile would stay on his face, worries about his physical state fading away.

To his inquisition about her injury, she was forthright and admitted as much. Though he had been mostly teasing, it saddened him a bit to think of Eun-ji in pain. It wasn't as though he was one to talk, being a Quidditch player in the position most likely to be targeted by a bludger. Still, the foolish heart wished for impossible things. He felt the helpless urge to soften the world around her, yet understood the drive to push the limits. It was clear in her performance that she was dedicated.

"Perhaps I could attend your rehearsals more often, if you wouldn't mind." Even though he had little extra energy during the day to spare, he couldn't help but see the opportunity to give back to her for all her kindness to him. If he was there with her, he could help her find her limits, or be there for some quick healing. "Sorry, I can't seem to stop thinking of more ways to spend time together. I hope I'm not being intrusive."

When he started to fluster, Eun-ji reached up towards his face, a movement that might normally startle Flash, had it been someone else. In fact, the closeness only made him want to draw in further, feeling an invisible tug towards further closing the gap. Before he got caught up too much in that distraction, Eun-ji would deflate unhappily. That would snap him out of his daydream and back to reality. He listened carefully, nothing out of the ordinary until the end of her statement.

"Stole her?" Flash's voice and demeanor would change, offended by this injustice. Not wanting to cause a scene, he'd look around to make sure he had not drawn the ire of any other performers or attendees. Then, he'd lower his voice again. "Do you live by any muggle businesses? Many of them have security cameras on the outside, they can find license plates that way..."

Realizing he was not being very helpful, he'd let out an aggravated sigh. "No... I'm sure you're doing everything you can already. That's horrible." Flash would reach for Eun-ji's hand as she picked at the flowers, his fingers wrapping around hers with gentle precision. "I'm here to see you, though. Do you have to be anywhere, am I keeping you?"

He didn't want to be responsible for a faux pas, so once he realized his ignorance, he would ask right away. As long as he knew how much time he had, he could get the most out of the moment before overstaying his welcome.

Blue in English, Red in Korean/ Other people: Violet in Korean, Bold in English

Flash accepted her advice and in turn offered a help of his own. He seemed worried whether he didn’t cross some invisible line but Eun-ji didn’t mind in the slightest. On the contrary… “I’d love that.” She said earnestly. Training with Lucia helped a lot when it came to self-control since she was trying not to push her friend too much but when she practised alone, all that caution went out the window. Had it been anybody else, the Ravenclaw wouldn’t have agreed. She didn’t mind practising alone and she also doubted one could tell when she was reaching her limit. Flash however was special. She was almost sure, he would be able to see the signs…somehow, the boy was incredible at reading her. Not to mention, Eun-ji was also looking for more reasons to be by his side and talk to him so this offer made her beyond happy.

The next topic? Not so much. “Yes, we did report it and asked police to check the security cameras but so far nothing. The thief must have known the area well. We only found her collar near the train station.” She wouldn’t go into details of how she was the one to find it and she wouldn’t admit that they only went to the police so as not to arouse suspicion among the neighbours. They all knew how much Eun-ji adored Morgana so it would be strange to say the least if she didn’t bother filing the report. Even as she was doing so however, she already knew they wouldn’t find anything. Like she said…the thief knew the area well...far too well in fact.

Suddenly, a hand wrapped around her restless fingers, preventing her from ruining the beautiful bouquet entirely. Eun-ji's heart fluttered at the sensation. It was highly unusual for her to let such affectionate action pass without flinching but that instinct simply never came with this boy. It was almost as if Flash held some kind of special card that gave him an automatic pass for anything he did. Was this what happened when you started liking someone? Eun-ji could feel her cheeks flush at the mere thought of it but made no move to pull her hand back. Instead, she found herself gently returning the gesture and a small smile found its way back to her lips. Flash’s hand was much bigger than hers and she felt both a little nervous yet strangely grounded. It was comforting to see how much he cared about her. The Slytherin wasn't as fond of animals as she was but he clearly knew how distraught she'd be by losing her fury friend. Enough to get angry on her behalf. She couldn’t help thinking how lucky she was to have met him.

“I...well no. Nothing special but we were planning to grab something to eat before my dad goes to work. He has a night shift today.” She explained her next plans to the boy pausing only for a moment to gather courage. “I was hoping you would join us as well?” After all like he said, he came all the way here for her. She didn't want to let him go so soon. It would be better if they didn't have to entertain the adults as well but Eun-ji didn't mind too much. She was okay with Flash getting to know her father. As it was now, he was the only person worth meeting. “I know you are exhausted but you still have to eat and I'll be damned if I let you go to bed hungry.” Her tone was much lighter now that the topic changed. In all honesty, she'd much prefer he had a home-cooked meal but dragging him to Chester was plenty dangerous on its own. She was not stupid enough to bring him into her house before the Hunts left the city. “Of course this does not cover my dinner invitation.” The witch reminded him of her promise from the Valentine’s day tea party. “Let’s sort that one when we are back at Hogwarts, okay? I’m told I can use the kitchens this year and I’m definitely planning on it…that is…if you are still interested.” She sure hoped the answer was yes. The Ravenclaw knew there was not much she could do for him but a good meal prepared with affection always raised her spirits in the past. If she could at least do that for him, she would be somewhat content.

@Flash Holmwood