17 Aug 2018, 01:48
A Letter Home and An Unpleasant Introduction
Becky hugged her robes tightly around her body as she made her way up the spiral steps to the owlery, wishing she had thought to put on a cloak. In her hand was a firmly grasped letter she planned to send home- the first of its kind. Until now she'd been holding off contacting either her mother or grandmother in fear of what their response might be. Her grandmother had helped her attend Hogwarts and she knew that it wasn't her letter she was afraid of. It was her mother's response that she was dreading.
Becky's grandmother had practically smuggled her out of her house so she could pursue magic and it was against her mother's expressed wishes that she did. Even if she'd written to her grandmother, her mother was a subject she couldn't avoid, and even though she had about a hundred questions and hopes and fears twirling in her mind, she just couldn't bring herself to the know the answers until now.
When she'd first sat down, Becky had told herself that she'd write the letter just to see what it felt like, but she'd sat at a desk for three hours perfecting what she'd say and couldn't dream of anything else until she'd finished. Afterwards, she had sat reading over her words and wondered if she should send it. Even when she'd taken such care to address the envelope, making sure not a bit of ink smudged the paper while it dried, Becky hadn't made up her mind. The letter had rested snuggly in her trunk for four days until she finally determined to bring it up to the owlery.
The letter she held in her ungloved hand was addressed to both her mother and grandmother. When Becky imagined her grandmother opening a letter from Becky that was only hers, she couldn't bear to think about what her mother's face would look like, lost and yearning, hardening to anger, icy resentment concealing her mother's longing to take care of her child. Becky couldn't and wouldn't do that to her. Still, she was too afraid to address it solely to her mother, and it would be easier if she pretended that they hadn't betrayed her.
Becky jogged up the stone steps of the owlery, knowing she was close by the population of owls that were swooping around the tower. She had doubts in her mind, but she was almost there and she wasn't going to chicken out now, so she pretended that there were none.
Muttering under her breath, she made a mantra to ward the bad thoughts away, "I love Mum, and Mum loves me, okay? Okay."
She would feel a little embarrassed if any of her classmates overheard, but keeping it in her mind firmed her determination so she repeated it again.
"I love Mum, and Mum loves me, okay? Okay. She loves me, I know that." Huffing out a great breath, Becky finally reached the top of the stairs.
Becky's grandmother had practically smuggled her out of her house so she could pursue magic and it was against her mother's expressed wishes that she did. Even if she'd written to her grandmother, her mother was a subject she couldn't avoid, and even though she had about a hundred questions and hopes and fears twirling in her mind, she just couldn't bring herself to the know the answers until now.
When she'd first sat down, Becky had told herself that she'd write the letter just to see what it felt like, but she'd sat at a desk for three hours perfecting what she'd say and couldn't dream of anything else until she'd finished. Afterwards, she had sat reading over her words and wondered if she should send it. Even when she'd taken such care to address the envelope, making sure not a bit of ink smudged the paper while it dried, Becky hadn't made up her mind. The letter had rested snuggly in her trunk for four days until she finally determined to bring it up to the owlery.
The letter she held in her ungloved hand was addressed to both her mother and grandmother. When Becky imagined her grandmother opening a letter from Becky that was only hers, she couldn't bear to think about what her mother's face would look like, lost and yearning, hardening to anger, icy resentment concealing her mother's longing to take care of her child. Becky couldn't and wouldn't do that to her. Still, she was too afraid to address it solely to her mother, and it would be easier if she pretended that they hadn't betrayed her.
Becky jogged up the stone steps of the owlery, knowing she was close by the population of owls that were swooping around the tower. She had doubts in her mind, but she was almost there and she wasn't going to chicken out now, so she pretended that there were none.
Muttering under her breath, she made a mantra to ward the bad thoughts away, "I love Mum, and Mum loves me, okay? Okay."
She would feel a little embarrassed if any of her classmates overheard, but keeping it in her mind firmed her determination so she repeated it again.
"I love Mum, and Mum loves me, okay? Okay. She loves me, I know that." Huffing out a great breath, Becky finally reached the top of the stairs.
Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to stick to the possibilities; truth isn't.
-Mark Twain
17 Aug 2018, 02:15
A Letter Home and An Unpleasant Introduction
Aravis had a stack of letters sat beside her, she was sending out tons of owls today, she had decided sending them all in one day would make it easier than walking up all those dreaded stairs again and again and again.
Currently in her hand was a letter with the name "Maven Escanora" written in large fancy writing. Ara had rather neat handwriting for a twelve year old. A green wax seal kept the letter from opening before it got to her youngest brother. She handed it to an owl which gladly took the letter in its beak after it received a treat from the silver haired girl.
She kneeled down to the stack of letters, untying the small green ribbon that kept them all from being pushed away into the breeze. As she sealed her next letter a voice echoed nearby. ""I love Mum, and Mum loves me, okay? Okay. She loves me, I know that." The voice stated. A figure entered the small area, another student. A first year. The tall white haired girl gave her an odd stare. "Your mum not like you doing magic?" She assumed with a slight laugh. Aravis meant no harm by it, or at least she didn't think she did, yet her tone seemed cruel. Her voice was always so harsh sounding, which she wished it wasn't. Her cruel smirk never helped her case either.
Currently in her hand was a letter with the name "Maven Escanora" written in large fancy writing. Ara had rather neat handwriting for a twelve year old. A green wax seal kept the letter from opening before it got to her youngest brother. She handed it to an owl which gladly took the letter in its beak after it received a treat from the silver haired girl.
She kneeled down to the stack of letters, untying the small green ribbon that kept them all from being pushed away into the breeze. As she sealed her next letter a voice echoed nearby. ""I love Mum, and Mum loves me, okay? Okay. She loves me, I know that." The voice stated. A figure entered the small area, another student. A first year. The tall white haired girl gave her an odd stare. "Your mum not like you doing magic?" She assumed with a slight laugh. Aravis meant no harm by it, or at least she didn't think she did, yet her tone seemed cruel. Her voice was always so harsh sounding, which she wished it wasn't. Her cruel smirk never helped her case either.
I will take what is mine with fire and blood.
"It seems to me that a queen who trusts no one is as foolish as a queen who trusts everyone."
17 Aug 2018, 09:48
A Letter Home and An Unpleasant Introduction
As Becky found her way into the Owlery she saw a silver haired girl who stood a good few inches taller than herself standing with one letter in her hand and a stack of them beside her. She realized a solid split-second after she saw her, that this stranger probably heard Becky's little mantra. Trying not to display her mortification, Becky kept her face blank except for a slight clench of her jaw.
Maybe she didn't hear, Becky thought hopefully as icy dread pierced her heart.
"I don't see what it has to do with you." She retorted back, trying to brush off the awkward encounter with some pride. She'd had enough disasters at Hogwarts already.
Becky was pretty good at bluffing her way past most situations, so that's what she attempted to do now. With the letter held tenderly in her hand, she casually surveyed the owlery, noticing some treats near to this girl. In her hand, she grabbed a few bland looking treats for herself from a nearby dish with a lid to keep the owls out, and casually walked over to a bird perched on the thick stone railing, turning her back to the girl.
Maybe she didn't hear, Becky thought hopefully as icy dread pierced her heart.
Becky bristled at this girl's haughty attitude. Squinting her eyes slightly and cocking her head as if to say, why do you care, Becky let a small, dry, huff of a laugh escape her lips.The tall silver haired girl gave her an odd stare. "Your mum not like you doing magic?" She assumed with a slight laugh.
"I don't see what it has to do with you." She retorted back, trying to brush off the awkward encounter with some pride. She'd had enough disasters at Hogwarts already.
Becky was pretty good at bluffing her way past most situations, so that's what she attempted to do now. With the letter held tenderly in her hand, she casually surveyed the owlery, noticing some treats near to this girl. In her hand, she grabbed a few bland looking treats for herself from a nearby dish with a lid to keep the owls out, and casually walked over to a bird perched on the thick stone railing, turning her back to the girl.
Reducio
Sorry my responses are so short. If you'd like, I can try to make them a little bit longer.
Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to stick to the possibilities; truth isn't.
-Mark Twain
17 Aug 2018, 15:49
A Letter Home and An Unpleasant Introduction
The smile that had formed on Aravis's face dropped as soon as it had appeared. The girl in front of her seemed rather bitter. Aravis had just been trying to be helpful, and had meant no harm by her comment. Do not engage Aravis, you know what happens when you do. If this girl wanted a fight, she would sure get one. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize you can't speak kindly. My apologies. I mean't 'Your mum not like you?' That better?" Aravis said with a glare that seemed to stare into peoples souls as the other girl walked off to an owl like nothing had happened. So much for not firing back. This girl must have been eager to see the rich girl's cruel side. "Do you even have any idea who you are speaking to?" The silver haired girl said with even more bitterness in her tone. It was as if the words were venom and she was a cobra.
If one thing was for sure, the tall girl wouldn't be ignored. She handed another owl a letter and a treat before getting the next letter ready. If this Ravenclaw didn't speak back to her, she might consider it as an apology. Or she would end up firing even worse comments at the girl. After all, it wasn't every day someone managed to tick off the only Escanora daughter. The ravenclaw was lucky that Aravis hadn't hexed her. Last time she hexed someone she wound up with detention. And that was not something she wanted again.
If one thing was for sure, the tall girl wouldn't be ignored. She handed another owl a letter and a treat before getting the next letter ready. If this Ravenclaw didn't speak back to her, she might consider it as an apology. Or she would end up firing even worse comments at the girl. After all, it wasn't every day someone managed to tick off the only Escanora daughter. The ravenclaw was lucky that Aravis hadn't hexed her. Last time she hexed someone she wound up with detention. And that was not something she wanted again.
Reducio
It's fine! My replies tend to be short. What ever length you feel like writing is fine by me! =^.^=
I will take what is mine with fire and blood.
"It seems to me that a queen who trusts no one is as foolish as a queen who trusts everyone."
18 Aug 2018, 05:33
A Letter Home and An Unpleasant Introduction
Reducio
Not sure if this thread was still open... I’ll delete my post if it isn’t 
Muriel climbed up the stone staircase, an envelope and a very thick letter in hand. With so much to explore and do at Hogwarts, she’d completely forgotten to owl her mother... for a month... a month! She’d promised to send her an owl first and had asked her to wait until it was sent before replying, but by now her parents were probably worried sick! What is wrong with me???? She internally screamed at herself as a chilly wind blew through the tower. But she didn’t mind the cold.
As she started nearing the top, a voice rang down to her, causing her to pause and listen in curiously.
Whoever was talking sounded really upset, so she hesitantly made it to the top and took a quick look around. Only two other people seemed to be present at the time; one girl who looked to be from her own house, and another older girl looking to be from Slytherin. Wondering if she should say anything, she momentarily forgot about the situation as she froze and stared up in awe at the numerous amounts of owls. ...She’d never seen so many of the beautiful creatures in one place before!“Do you even have any idea who you’re speaking to?”
“Oh! Look at all of you cuties!” She exclaimed suddenly, heading over to a group of them perched lower to the ground. Muriel always had a love for animals, especially owls. Unfortunately, her mother wouldn’t let her have her own until she got older. The feathery creatures stared at her, some of them tilting their heads when they noticed the letter in her hand.
After taking in the whole room, she suddenly remembered her random outburst and squirmed in the spot she stood in. “Oh... umm... sorry...” She murmured quietly, wondering if either of the girls would even hear her or just continue what they were doing. With that, she looked back down at her hands and began folding up her letter, trying to find a way to make it fit into her envelope.
Stamina: 8; Agility: 8; Strength: 5; Control: 9
22 Aug 2018, 01:49
A Letter Home and An Unpleasant Introduction
Becky had never been very good at holding her tongue, and it had already proven disastrous this year. It was like people spoke another language at Hogwarts. The wizarding world was just as alien to Becky as mars. People had always had problems with her in the muggle world and she'd thought maybe Hogwarts would be her haven, but she felt like just as much as an outsider here than anywhere else. Conflict seemed to appear out of thin air- and she never said the right thing to dissarm the situation or defend herself. Is there nothing I can do?
This is what Becky thought as she tried to approach a beautiful, speckled brown owl, turning her back on the other girl. She didn't need more conflict.
"No," Becky replied, with a feigned icy deference, "but I have a feeling you might tell me-"
Becky felt her shoulders relax, letting out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. The birds were cute and Becky wished she'd have focused on that instead of her own pettiness. Reaching out, she watched the speckled brown owl take the treat from her hand, smiling as he gulped it down his gullet in no time at all.
"Don't be sorry," Becky said, eyeing the speckled bird, "These owls really are cute."
Turning towards this new girl and smiling lopsidedly, Becky thrust out her hand, "I'm Becky. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Becky made a point of not turning to face the other girl who'd asked if Becky knew who she was, she didn't need to know.
This is what Becky thought as she tried to approach a beautiful, speckled brown owl, turning her back on the other girl. She didn't need more conflict.
Becky's family was a sensitive subject and this girl had struck a nerve she'd clearly been aiming for. Becky grew rigid and almost spun around to shout her down, but froze, halfway between turning, with her jaw clenched. Don't take the bait, she urged herself, but the way this girl's stare tried to pry into her heart just fueled the bottled rage she had capped inside. Becky jerked her head forward, forcing herself to look away before she said something stupid."Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize you can't speak kindly. My apologies. I mean't 'Your mum not like you?' That better?"
Becky rolled her eyes, God, how many people would she meet with such a stagnant superiority complex. Her mirth was soiled with anger."Do you even have any idea who you are speaking to?"
"No," Becky replied, with a feigned icy deference, "but I have a feeling you might tell me-"
Becky was slighly startled by a random exclamation, and it took a second of confusion to remember that she was in a public place where people- like this Ravenclaw girl- might wander by."Oh! Look at all of you cuties!”
Becky felt her shoulders relax, letting out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. The birds were cute and Becky wished she'd have focused on that instead of her own pettiness. Reaching out, she watched the speckled brown owl take the treat from her hand, smiling as he gulped it down his gullet in no time at all.
This girl seemed sweet and Becky didn't like people feeling guilty or sorry- it just made her uncomfortable, besides good feelings were a much better time.“Oh... umm... sorry...” She murmered quietly.
"Don't be sorry," Becky said, eyeing the speckled bird, "These owls really are cute."
Turning towards this new girl and smiling lopsidedly, Becky thrust out her hand, "I'm Becky. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Becky made a point of not turning to face the other girl who'd asked if Becky knew who she was, she didn't need to know.
Reducio
Welcome to the thread! Glad you could join us 
(Uh, just to let you know, it might get a little tense, he, he)
(Uh, just to let you know, it might get a little tense, he, he) Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to stick to the possibilities; truth isn't.
-Mark Twain
22 Aug 2018, 02:17
A Letter Home and An Unpleasant Introduction
As the Ravenclaw girl was about to finish her icy response another Ravenclaw entered, clearly excited about the owls. Aravis couldn't help but slightly smile. Slightly. The owls were cute. "It is quite alright." She said with a smile. That was before Becky ever so politely introduced herself to the other girl. "Oh, so you can introduce yourself to other people but not ones who were ready to comfort you if something was wrong. How snobbish." Aravis sneered.
She hated people like this. People who refused to let anyone be nice to them first. Maybe it was the way the white haired girl spoke, or the way she smiled. She had been told her voice made her sound threatening and that her smirk looked evil. She slowly walked over, towering over the first year by a good few inches. High heels made her seem even taller than she was, which made it all the more scarier for people she was ready to hurl verbal insults at. "I am Aravis Isolde Escanora. Pure-blood and ready to help anyone in need, that doesn't have a snotty attitude that is." She said extending her hand slowly to Muriel with a smile, followed by a "Medusa like" glare towards Becky. If looks could kill, the one Aravis shot at Becky sure would have.
I will take what is mine with fire and blood.
"It seems to me that a queen who trusts no one is as foolish as a queen who trusts everyone."
23 Aug 2018, 05:42
A Letter Home and An Unpleasant Introduction
Reducio
Thanks XD And sorry in advance for my random disappearances; school just started for me so my replies may be delayed from time to time
Muriel turned around, facing the other Ravenclaw and gave her a small handshake. “Hi, umm... I’m Muriel. It’s nice to meet you too...” She replied, returning the smile. Becky seemed nice, though wondered why she’d never came across the girl until now. It’s a big school, duh. Of course there’ll be a lot of new people you haven’t met still. She thought to herself before realizing she still hadn’t said anything else.“I’m Becky. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Ya... I really like owls... I want to get my own one day!” Muriel said randomly, mentally questioning herself why she’d say something like that as a first impression. “What do you think-“
Her next words were interrupted by the other girl in the room, who seemed so far to dislike Becky. She lost her train of thought and stared as the girl began to approach her. Muriel had never seen someone with white hair before, unless she counted an old lady she saw one day. But this girl seemed really young, probably only a year or two older than her. Maybe three... she’s really tall.“Oh, so you can introduce yourself to other people but not to ones who were ready to comfort you if something was wrong. How snobbish.”
She shook her hand as well and gave a timid smile in return. “Oh, umm... thanks...and I’m Muriel” She replied, staring curiously from Aravis to Becky, now definitely sensing the sparks between the two of them. Both of them were being very nice to her... but yet seemed to have a whole other side of hatred towards one another. Not wanting to get involved, but at the same wanting to diffuse the tension somehow, Muriel decided to break the awkward silence forming.“I am Aravis Isolde Escanora. Pure-blood and ready to help anyone in need, that doesn’t have a snotty attitude that is.”
”So, uhh... are you both here to send a letter as well?” She asked them casually, fumbling with her own letter once more to try and fit it into the rather thin envelope. The truth was however that she’d never actually sent an owl before and wanted to see how it was done. She was used to her mother always handling everything delivery-related that she never had the thought to learn... plus the animal was too adorable for her to pay any other attention to details.
Stamina: 8; Agility: 8; Strength: 5; Control: 9
30 Aug 2018, 00:40
A Letter Home and An Unpleasant Introduction
As this girl smiled back at Becky, Becky felt her own smile spread. Although Becky was often independent and could appear unapproachable and hostile, all she really wanted was friends. Making them was the tricky part.“Hi, umm... I’m Muriel. It’s nice to meet you too...”
Muriel seemed to be hesitant in conversation, she didn't appear to have the same superiority complex as the other girl which was refreshing, but Becky also appreciated that she said what was on her mind. She seemed a little awkward, but Becky was also a fair bit of that and she hoped that this girl didn't feel to self conscious.“Ya... I really like owls... I want to get my own one day!”
"I absolutely love owls. The first time I saw an owl was in the Magical Menegerie in Diagon Ally." Becky told her.
Muriel seemed nice enough, Becky thought, unlike the white haired girl who she'd interpreted as being intrusive and rude. Becky would sometimes realize that she could be too sensitive, but there was something about the tall, white haired girl that made Becky reel. Superiority had tender tones in Becky's life. She couldn't stand people who carried around ideas that some people were better than others, and she'd been bitterly disappointed that this trait seemed even more prevelant in the wizarding world.“What do you think-“
“Oh, so you can introduce yourself to other people but not to ones who were ready to comfort you if something was wrong. How snobbish.”
Becky could hear the sneer in the white haired girl's voice and her response bristled in it's own tightly constrained tone, "I think you should look up the definition of comfort. I doubt it includes insults concerning one's mother." Becky turned to look over the edge of the balcony with a stormy expression behind her brown eyes as the girl started to walk over.
She was about to say something about the view, but just as she opened her mouth the other girl introduced herself in, what Becky thought, seemed to be a slightly threatening manner that was more than a little off-putting.
As the two girls shook hands, Becky rolled her eyes. The comment about her attitude didn't bother Becky, but as she realized the girl's height and noticed the force of her glare she sent after, Becky couldn't help but feel intimidated- for a split second that is- after that it just made her angry. She shot back a fierce glare of her own, trying not to wither under this girl's gaze, imagining that she was trying to burn this girl to cinders with her eyes.“I am Aravis Isolde Escanora. Pure-blood and ready to help anyone in need, that doesn’t have a snotty attitude that is.”
“Oh, umm... thanks...and I’m Muriel”
Becky had tunnel vision for a few moments, but then Muriel interupted their war seeming to try and break the tension.
Breaking away, in what she hoped was a look of indifference, Becky smiled awkwardly trying to brush it off, "Yeah, I'm sending my first one home. I've been delaying. Hogwarts is just so captivating." Becky didn't want to reveal the real reason she had been delaying.”So, uhh... are you both here to send a letter as well?”
Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to stick to the possibilities; truth isn't.
-Mark Twain
30 Aug 2018, 15:22
A Letter Home and An Unpleasant Introduction
The look on Ara's face said it all. If it wasn't illegal she most likely would have mauled Becky with a knife. Thankfully, Aravis's knife was back in her dorm room on display. "Wow, I didn't know asking if someones mother didn't like you doing magic was an insult? You realize I was asking if you were ok right? I- being the kind person I usually am- was ready to help you through something, but no. Was it my voice? Is it the way I say things? Do you dislike my tone? Stop playing the victim." Ara stated speaking the words like they were venom. She mentally wished Muriel wasn't standing there to witness Ara's bad side.
Aravis clearly searched Becky for a weak spot with eyes colder than the Russian winters themselves. It was like a war between the two, and Aravis had no intention of losing. Muriel would most likely see a side of Ara that no one wanted to witness. It was something she kept inside her most of the time. "Yes. I am here to send letters. Not deal with Petty Becky." She said with a sinister smile not looking at Muriel while she spoke.
Aravis walked a few steps away to repeat her letter process as before. She picked up another letter with the name "Farrah" in neatly scrawled letters. She gave the owl a treat before it took the letter in it's beak and flew off. She had at least 10 letters to go.
I will take what is mine with fire and blood.
"It seems to me that a queen who trusts no one is as foolish as a queen who trusts everyone."