11 Sep 2022, 19:17
Light In the Dark Continued
They/SheThere was one of two things that would occur in Pax's average morning.
One would be that they would wake early. After packing their bag, they'd would stretch, warm up for the day, and take a jog around the lake, maybe twice if they got up early enough. After, they'd return to the castle and eat breakfast before going to class. The most productive, healthiest of mornings.
The only other option, however, was for Pax to wake up incredibly late. Like, literally-five-minutes-before-class-began late. With barely enough time to grab a piece of toast or pack their bag.
It was just Pax's luck that they suffered the consequences of the second option.
Maybe they shouldn't have stayed up so late last night. Maybe they shouldn't have gone flying last night. Actually, scrap the last statement. They should always go flying.
It was nearing class time, and Pax could already feel their stomach rumbling. They needed some form of sustenance to last them through the morning, so they darted into the Great Hall with the intention to grab some food before it was all cleared away.
Though, as they darted in, they felt themself bump into someone, and they stumbled.
"Oh, thanks a lot- hey!" Their gaze softened slightly as they looked at the person opposite. "Sorry about that."
They looked back at the tables, but the food had gone.
"Oh come on!"Reducio
15 Sep 2022, 02:41
Light In the Dark Continued
He was starting off the month strong! So far, he hadn't missed a single morning workout with his fellow dormmate and quidditch teammate, Flash. Every page he tore off his calendar brought him a renewed sense of vigor and determination to do his very best in everything: workouts, quidditch practice, classes, homework, and everything Hogwarts.
It was unsurprising that violin practice fell a little into the background this term. However, he had proven that he could pass his first year at Hogwarts with above-average grades and his body intact. Finally, maybe his parents would cut him some slack on his progress with the instrument. He was a real wizard now, wasn't he? Surely, they would begin to understand that he also needed the opportunity to focus on his new life here? And that violin was more of a hobby that had given him the foundation to learn new things quickly, rather than a pursuit that he needed to continue in such a regimented manner?
Still high on the endorphin rush from his morning workout, he gobbled down all the delicious food. Breakfast at Hogwarts never disappointed. He packed fruits, eggs, bacon, pastries, and sausages onto his plate and cleared it all. For his small size, he sure ate a lot.
All too soon, it was time to go. Off to class! However, a beautiful and delicious piece of toast called out to him, so he stopped in his tracks, grabbed a knife and smeared some jam on it last-second, then carried it in his mouth by the corner as he exited the Great Hall -- one hand gripping his bag, and the other carrying his violin case.
Someone's shoulder slammed into him. "Mmmph!" he groaned from the sudden impact, toast swinging precariously from his mouth. In a split second, he dropped his bag and managed to catch the falling slice of toast, jam side up. What a lucky save. "Whew!" he said in relief. "Couldn't let that beauty go to waste!"
He glanced up at the person who he'd run into, and it was no other than the legendary Pax Zhang, who seemed to recognize him as well. Otherwise, he was pretty sure he'd get a thrashing from the spunky gal.
"Ohhey, sorry Pax!" he followed up with an apology of his own, which quickly turned into a friendly, cheeky little taunt. "You're just as blind in the light as you are in the dark, huh?" he teased. "Did you have a good mea-" But, the disappointment in their exclamation and expression said it all. Pax Zhang had missed the most important meal of the day. "Oh, huh, you didn't even get a bite, did you?" he said, face falling a little at the utmost tragedy that had taken place. Picture this: Pax Zhang starving in lectures through two whole periods. Pax Zhang's stomach rumbling loudly in the quietest of moment during class, when no one wanted to answer the prof's question. Pax Zhang wanting to cast some magic during class practice, but the spell backfiring due to their unsatiated hunger. So, so tragic.
Perhaps he looked a little too concerned than he really should've, but those scenes that he pictured in his head were quite calamitous.
"Here!" he said, holding out his lone slice of jammed toast to the Gryffindor. "I was going to bring this to class, but you can have it if you want!" If Pax didn't mind eating delicious strawberry jam on a perfectly toasted and still-warm rye.
On second thought... "Just kidding!" He quickly retracted the slice. "Who am I kidding, I just worked out this morning and I'm going to be hungry by the time I walk to Charms," he said, which was 20% true, 80% taunt. "Y'snooze, y'lose!" He stuck out his tongue at them.
@Pax Zhang
29 Sep 2022, 23:07
Light In the Dark Continued
They/SheAvery's spoken-aloud thoughts refused to register in Pax's head as they stared longingly at the now empty tables, a pout on their face.
Dang it.
Sighing loudly, they (partially) tuned back into Avery's conversation, which they now could assume was meant to be with them but would seem to be more one-sided.
"Here!" the boy had said, now holding out a slice of jammed toast. "I was going to bring this to class, but you can have it if you want!"
Pax raised an eyebrow, mouth salivating as they eyed the bread carefully. There surely had to be a catch.
"If you're sure-"
"Who am I kidding, I just worked out this morning and I'm going to be hungry by the time I walk to Charms. Y'snooze, y'lose!"
"Huh!" Pax laughed indignantly, eyes blazing with a blend of infuriation and amusement. "You don't think you're getting away with a statement like that that easily, do you?"
Ever-so-(not very)-gently punching the boy in the toast-holding arm, they walked back into the corridor, before turning back to him.
"Don't think you're getting that autograph now, Toast Thief," they quipped quickly. "And before you think of another witty retort, be aware that I'm very much capable of making my thoughts of jammed toast lying on the ground a reality."Reducio
6 Nov 2022, 18:33
Light In the Dark Continued
As Pax punched Avery's arm, he almost dropped the toast again. Wow, Pax was really testing his reflexes, weren't they? It seemed pretty clear that he wasn't going to get away with the teasing, like Pax had said.
"Don't think you're getting that autograph now, Toast Thief. And before you think of another witty retort, be aware that I'm very much capable of making my thoughts of jammed toast lying on the ground a reality." Avery let out a loud sigh of resignation, clearly defeated. Pax really knew how to play their cards, and Avery knew that he wanted that autograph. As long as Pax had this as leverage against him, there was no way he could get away with anything. "Okay, okay!" he said, running up to Pax towards the corridor, violin case bumping up and down on his back. "Here! Why don't you take this whole entire toast -- it's really good by the way, the strawberry jam. Maybe worth more than half of an autograph? We're almost late for class now, but why don't we sit together in Charms class, so you can sign my parchment?" he suggested excitedly, inwardly patting himself on the back for coming up with a way to have Pax as a Charms partner for today, too.
"Are you good at Charms, by the way?" he asked conversationally, wondering what it would be like to be partners. "Out of all the athletes, I'd say that duelists would most likely be the best spell-casters, with broom racers a close second, unless they prefer to use their physical strength and dexterity. But quidditch players might just be the ones who come in last on the wand-work front, on average," he mused out loud as he kept in step with Pax.
@Pax Zhang
11 Nov 2022, 00:56
Light In the Dark Continued
They/SheAs Pax walked, they cast a small look back at Avery, who was still stood there holding his toast. They smirked slightly, but when their stomach growled once again, they scowled.
"Okay, okay!"
Pax turned around, properly this time around, as the boy jogged up to them with the food in hand, and eyebrow raised expectantly.
"Here! Why don't you take this whole entire toast -- it's really good by the way, the strawberry jam. Maybe worth more than half of an autograph? We're almost late for class now, but why don't we sit together in Charms class, so you can sign my parchment?"
For once, Pax actually smiled genuinely, taking the toast from Avery. It was cute amusing to see someone so willing. Most people would usually up a fight. If this was what 'fame' was like, they'd take it. And they had to appreciate the generosity.
"You know what," they said, looking at the toast. "Let's split it. After all, you did get it fair and square."
Ignoring the fact their fingers would be super-sticky after, they did their best to part the toast down the middle before handing the slightly smaller piece back to Avery (hey, he had offered it after all).
"And sure. It's better to be late to class with a friend, right?"
"Are you good at Charms, by the way? Out of all the athletes, I'd say that duelists would most likely be the best spell-casters, with broom racers a close second, unless they prefer to use their physical strength and dexterity. But quidditch players might just be the ones who come in last on the wand-work front, on average."
Pax shrugged. "Eh, I guess I'm alright. Win some, lose some, you know? And I can see what you mean on the spellcasting. Duellists have gotta be good at charms right, otherwise they'd be pretty rubbish duellists, am I right? As for broom racing, I know incredibly little on it, but I think spell-casting is needed. Or at least used. Quidditch players have the least use for spells, that's all true. But it doesn't make them automatically rubbish."
They sized up their new Charms partner. "You look like the type of person to have already studied like, three chapters ahead in textbooks. I'll take a good guess that you're solid on Charms too."Pax leaves thread/moves to charms classroomReducio