Stars, Sky & Slytherin Schoolmates
Private RPG with Lara Youngblood
Place: Astronomy Tower
Time: 12:01 AM
Place: Astronomy Tower
Time: 12:01 AM
”Step in, students!”
The voice of the professor came muffled through the closed door, but the invitation was all the head prefect needed to open the door to the classroom and usher the students in. The four houses' students entered, sticking to their 'packs' as they went through the door one by one. The loud chattering died down to hushed whispers as the students noticed the man inside - Professor Barclay, to be precise.
Everybody was commenting in a low voice as they noticed the classroom. The classroom had a round form as it was near the top of the Astronomy Tower. The chairs stood in an half-moon-ish alignment of three rows, each of them consisting of twenty chairs. Each of said chairs had a table attached to them, which would allow the students to take notes when having a theoretical class.
"Wow," Dot breathed as she walked in, amazed by sight of the class situated on the top of a tower. A Gryffindor girl nodded in her direction, an awed smile on her lips.
Soon, the class was filled, both with students and hushed conversations.
Dot's gaze snapped to the professor, who was raising a single eyebrow at the students. His words brought a smile on Dot's lips. It was something her mother - adoptive mother - would say. Shrugging the twinge of homesickness, Dot shuffled around to find a seat. A Gryffindor girl waved at Dot, and when Dot caught her attention, she patted to the empty seat beside her. Dot knew that girl (she had met her before at the Hogwarts train) but couldn't remember her name. Smiling, she gave the girl a thumbs-up before making her way towards her.”Do you need an invitation to sit down?”
Although, she was stopped short.
There was a new wave of mutters and groan of the students heard in the classroom, including Dot's own. The Gryffindor girl huffed before looking at her would-be partner, pouting. The girl shrugged as a Ravenclaw boy sat with her, not before asking, though. Sighing, Dot faced the mass of students, searching for any familiar person to sit with.“You will now get to know the first rule in this class. There will not be anyone sitting next to a person of their own house, you should be able to sit and work with anyone, better learn that sooner than later!”
"When I die, I want free Wi-Fi fitted inside my tombstone, just so people will visit more often."
Stars, Sky & Slytherin Schoolmates
Astronomy. Lara wasn’t looking forward to it, exactly - the idea of having to sit still and pay attention to the stars made her jittery. She much preferred Charms, or Transfiguration, where she could at least move around a bit, and where the learning was hands-on enough to keep her attention. But she didn’t dread the class, either. It couldn’t be worse than history and she was surviving that, so far.
She allowed herself to be herded into the Astronomy classroom, stifling a yawn behind one hand. The tower itself was okay, in her opinion. Nicer than the dungeon, at least, with its gloomy walls and lack of natural light. Lara probably would have been more impressed if she wasn’t so tired. And cold. She’d shivered the whole walk over.
She was one of the first to sit down, too worn-out to look around the room or mingle with other students, mostly just wishing she was still wrapped up in a blanket in her bed. Would the professor notice if she fell asleep? She could just get one of her room-mates to cover for her, she supposed, glancing around to find one of them. But before she could grab any of their attentions, the professor went ahead and crushed her idea:
“Hey,” Lara said, loudly enough to be heard over buzz of annoyed and anxious voices in the air. She tried motioning for the girl to come closer, attempting to make eye contact so she'd know that Lara was, indeed, talking to her. She hadn’t spoken for hours, and her voice cracked a little when she continued. “Yeah, you. Wanna sit with me?”
She allowed herself to be herded into the Astronomy classroom, stifling a yawn behind one hand. The tower itself was okay, in her opinion. Nicer than the dungeon, at least, with its gloomy walls and lack of natural light. Lara probably would have been more impressed if she wasn’t so tired. And cold. She’d shivered the whole walk over.
She was one of the first to sit down, too worn-out to look around the room or mingle with other students, mostly just wishing she was still wrapped up in a blanket in her bed. Would the professor notice if she fell asleep? She could just get one of her room-mates to cover for her, she supposed, glancing around to find one of them. But before she could grab any of their attentions, the professor went ahead and crushed her idea:
Well, shoot. What was she supposed to do now? Her eyes seized onto the first friendly-looking face she could find: a tall, long-haired Gryffindor girl, who seemed just lost enough without her own house members available to consider sitting with Lara."There will not be anyone sitting next to a person of their own house."
“Hey,” Lara said, loudly enough to be heard over buzz of annoyed and anxious voices in the air. She tried motioning for the girl to come closer, attempting to make eye contact so she'd know that Lara was, indeed, talking to her. She hadn’t spoken for hours, and her voice cracked a little when she continued. “Yeah, you. Wanna sit with me?”
Stars, Sky & Slytherin Schoolmates
Dot muttered some curses under her breath, looking around to find someone. Just when she thought she recognized a girl she helped to sit up when she fell back yesterday - Harriette was the name, right? - she heard someone calling out 'hey'.
Dot turned around and looked over to see. Nobody was looking at her, it seemed. But then she saw a girl looking at Dot, exactly at her. She blinked a few times and held a hand on her chest to confirm, saying, "Me?" in her normal loud voice.
Dot quickly snapped out of her track of thoughts and, adjusting the strap of her plain book bag stuffed with all the necessary Astronomy things, she moistened her lips and said, "Um, sure,"
Dodging from the still unsettled kids, she made her way to the beautiful girl. As a habit, Dot's eyes went down at the girl's black Hogwarts robes, where the house crest was crisp on the fabric. A silver snake, on moss green background, giving majestic and proud-ish vibes.
Biting her lip, Dot plopped on the seat beside the girl. "I'm Dot, by the way," She introduced herself, out of habit that she developed soon when she came at Hogwarts. She didn't offer her hand to her, though. What if she's a purist like Lydia? Then she'd just recoil calling me a mudblood.
Dot turned around and looked over to see. Nobody was looking at her, it seemed. But then she saw a girl looking at Dot, exactly at her. She blinked a few times and held a hand on her chest to confirm, saying, "Me?" in her normal loud voice.
Dot stared at the girl for a whole second. It wasn't everyday pretty girls called her to sit with them. Dot was a little bit cute herself, but not the beautiful kind. The girl was a little short, but that was all. She had the perfect, heart-shaped face of a glowing color. Her thick hair were like the midnight - dark and intimidating. Her big eyes were filled with tiredness as she stared at Dot.“Yeah, you. Wanna sit with me?”
Dot quickly snapped out of her track of thoughts and, adjusting the strap of her plain book bag stuffed with all the necessary Astronomy things, she moistened her lips and said, "Um, sure,"
Dodging from the still unsettled kids, she made her way to the beautiful girl. As a habit, Dot's eyes went down at the girl's black Hogwarts robes, where the house crest was crisp on the fabric. A silver snake, on moss green background, giving majestic and proud-ish vibes.
Biting her lip, Dot plopped on the seat beside the girl. "I'm Dot, by the way," She introduced herself, out of habit that she developed soon when she came at Hogwarts. She didn't offer her hand to her, though. What if she's a purist like Lydia? Then she'd just recoil calling me a mudblood.
"When I die, I want free Wi-Fi fitted inside my tombstone, just so people will visit more often."
Stars, Sky & Slytherin Schoolmates
The girl she’d invited over stared at her for a moment, and although Lara couldn’t quite interpret the look on her face, she was too tired to really feel uncomfortable about it. She didn’t miss, however, the way the other girl’s eyes caught on the Slytherin crest tragically attached to the front of her robes. And that made her squirm. As soon as it happened, she tried to forget about it.
She smiled at the other girl when she sat down. It came almost easily, despite the situation - Lara really did enjoy meeting new people. She offered the girl her hand to shake, like she’d been taught, glancing quickly at the girl’s robes. Gryffindor. Had she met-?
Not now.
“My name is Lara,” she said, with a tad less excitement than she usually spoke with, biting her tongue before she could tack on her last name. “It’s nice to meet you.”
A bit formal, perhaps, but it was easy to fall back on old habits, even in a more casual environment. Lara glanced around the room, her gaze drifting over the students still trying to figure out seats.
“You excited for Astronomy?” she asked Dot, a bit dryly. She kind of hoped that the long-haired girl was, actually. Maybe if her partner was enthusiastic about it, she could try to be, too. And if she wasn’t? Well, then they’d have something in common.
She smiled at the other girl when she sat down. It came almost easily, despite the situation - Lara really did enjoy meeting new people. She offered the girl her hand to shake, like she’d been taught, glancing quickly at the girl’s robes. Gryffindor. Had she met-?
Not now.
“My name is Lara,” she said, with a tad less excitement than she usually spoke with, biting her tongue before she could tack on her last name. “It’s nice to meet you.”
A bit formal, perhaps, but it was easy to fall back on old habits, even in a more casual environment. Lara glanced around the room, her gaze drifting over the students still trying to figure out seats.
“You excited for Astronomy?” she asked Dot, a bit dryly. She kind of hoped that the long-haired girl was, actually. Maybe if her partner was enthusiastic about it, she could try to be, too. And if she wasn’t? Well, then they’d have something in common.
Stars, Sky & Slytherin Schoolmates
Dot was a little surprised when the Slytherin girl offered her a handshake. She hesitated a little before accepting the handshake, but only a little.
Even though it was pretty late in night, Dot was wide awake, unlike most of the students. That is because, after the dinner, she had slept for good three hours, waking up at eleven groggily. She had used the lavatory and got to reading her current book, Cress by Marissa Meyer, to get rid of the sleep. By the time the prefects came to collect the students, Dot was fully awake and ready.
She reached for her book bag, producing her textbook and a bunch of parchments to prepare for the note-taking, but left the fancy black quill inside, along with the bottle of ink. These days, Dot used her Muggle pen, a beautiful thing she so dearly loved. It was tucked in her robes' pocket as always, and Dot intended to take it out when she wanted to start writing already.
Even though it was pretty late in night, Dot was wide awake, unlike most of the students. That is because, after the dinner, she had slept for good three hours, waking up at eleven groggily. She had used the lavatory and got to reading her current book, Cress by Marissa Meyer, to get rid of the sleep. By the time the prefects came to collect the students, Dot was fully awake and ready.
Dot bobbed her head up and down, in a nod. "Nice to meet you as well."“It’s nice to meet you.”
She reached for her book bag, producing her textbook and a bunch of parchments to prepare for the note-taking, but left the fancy black quill inside, along with the bottle of ink. These days, Dot used her Muggle pen, a beautiful thing she so dearly loved. It was tucked in her robes' pocket as always, and Dot intended to take it out when she wanted to start writing already.
Dot bit her lip, thinking for a moment, then nodded gently. "Well, I think so. I'd be comfortable with it because from all I've read in the textbook, it seems like a Muggle subject." Dot said smoothly, but then cursed herself. She was still under the impression that the Slytherin girl was a purist, and didn't know about Dot's blood status. "I've been brought up in the Muggle world, you see..." She tried to clarify, blinking rapidly.“You excited for Astronomy?”
"When I die, I want free Wi-Fi fitted inside my tombstone, just so people will visit more often."
Stars, Sky & Slytherin Schoolmates
“Oh, yeah, same,” Lara said, straightening, a brief spurt of energy surging through her at the mention of the Muggle world. She missed it more than she’d thought she would. At home, she’d gotten the best of both worlds - school and extracurriculars and friendships in the Muggle world, but magic within her own family. She hadn’t thought the switch would be so difficult.“I’ve been brought up in the Muggle world, you see…”
“I kinda miss it, really,” she continued. “Hogwarts is great, but where are the footballs? The regular board games? I can’t even swim in the freaking lake.”
Dot seemed… Uneasy, about being brought up alongside Muggles, and Lara wondered briefly if perhaps she’d been bullied for it. Lara herself had never experienced any sort of shame because of her upbringing, but she was also a Pureblood, and she recognized that this probably exempted her from any prejudice. It wasn’t really fair, but it was how it was. She wanted to make sure Dot knew, like she did, that it was perfectly okay to like Muggles, or to do Muggle things, or to be halfblooded or Muggleborn. She’d heard enough argument within her own family on the matter, and so she’d developed a very firm opinion about it.
She took out her school things, thrown haphazardly into her book bag seconds before she'd had to leave her room, and set them down before her. Her textbooks and notebook she aligned neatly on opposite corners of her desk, and her quill she set down between them. Her pencil, she stuck behind her ear.
Stars, Sky & Slytherin Schoolmates
Dot's eyes slightly widened, as though she didn't believe it. She felt relieved that the girl - Lara - was herself familiar with Muggles, so maybe she won't be bullied by her. Maybe. "For real? That's cool!"“Oh, yeah, same,”
To be honest, Dot liked some (most?) of the Muggle ways better than Wizarding ways. For example, pen and quill. While pens are quick and easy to use, quills take much more time, and are scratchy in a way Dot can't explain. The use of quills and parchment seems...prehistoric. Dot had decided she is going to owl her mother later the next day to ask her to send a notebook. From a few days, it's hard to stand parchments, as well.
Dot fidgeted in her seat, excited to talk about the topic she went through with in her mind a lot. "Same!" She said, almost squeaking, but her voice wasn't too high-pitched. Yet. "Like, I opened up a small Dungeons & Dragons club here - you know, the board game? - and I got only five players for it besides me! It's almost like muggleborns came here and forgot about where they're from." Dot shook her head, as if disappointed. Her straight dark hair moved with the head, slapping on her sides each.“I kinda miss it, really,” she continued. “Hogwarts is great, but where are the footballs? The regular board games? I can’t even swim in the freaking lake.”
Dungeons & Dragons was Dot's favorite roleplaying game. She spent hours online, back in the Muggle world, to play it virtually. When Dot got the actual pack a few days back, she'd been so excited she screamed before rushing to make club posters, replying to her mother - adoptive mother - later the next day with a thanks.
Reducio
OOC -
When should the class start? I don't fancy rushing to the class just yet, but since we're doing a group RP, your opinions matter as much as mine do! Do tell me what you prefer and we'll go that way (:
When should the class start? I don't fancy rushing to the class just yet, but since we're doing a group RP, your opinions matter as much as mine do! Do tell me what you prefer and we'll go that way (:
"When I die, I want free Wi-Fi fitted inside my tombstone, just so people will visit more often."
Stars, Sky & Slytherin Schoolmates
To her relief, Dot seemed at least a little bit put at ease by Lara’s own mentions of Muggle culture. That, at least, was good. Even if being in this class was the exact opposite.
Dungeons and Dragons? Lara had heard of it before, but none of her friends had known how to play, or even had interest in the first place, by the time she had heard of it. She watched Dot’s hair as the other girl shook her head, a little entranced by the way it moved. She had to force herself to stop staring. It was rude to stare. But her own hair had never been longer than it was now, curling dark and thick against her shoulder blades, and seeing Dot's long locks made her feel... Not jealous, exactly. She didn't mind her own length. She let the weird feeling pass before figuring out what it was, one of her fingers twisting at a curl hanging over her shoulder.
“I’ve never played Dungeons and Dragons,” Lara admitted, furrowing her brow. “Honestly, I mostly played a lot of sports and stuff. Rugby, lacrosse, swimming, y’know. But it’s like… Role-play, yeah? Is it fun? What do you do?”
She plucked the pencil out from behind her ear and twirled it absently between her fingers while Dot answered. Even exhausted, she could hardly keep from fidgeting; her family had found her restlessness endearing when she was young, but she was now only scolded for it, as if she was choosing to be disruptive.
Dungeons and Dragons? Lara had heard of it before, but none of her friends had known how to play, or even had interest in the first place, by the time she had heard of it. She watched Dot’s hair as the other girl shook her head, a little entranced by the way it moved. She had to force herself to stop staring. It was rude to stare. But her own hair had never been longer than it was now, curling dark and thick against her shoulder blades, and seeing Dot's long locks made her feel... Not jealous, exactly. She didn't mind her own length. She let the weird feeling pass before figuring out what it was, one of her fingers twisting at a curl hanging over her shoulder.
“I’ve never played Dungeons and Dragons,” Lara admitted, furrowing her brow. “Honestly, I mostly played a lot of sports and stuff. Rugby, lacrosse, swimming, y’know. But it’s like… Role-play, yeah? Is it fun? What do you do?”
She plucked the pencil out from behind her ear and twirled it absently between her fingers while Dot answered. Even exhausted, she could hardly keep from fidgeting; her family had found her restlessness endearing when she was young, but she was now only scolded for it, as if she was choosing to be disruptive.
Reducio
I'm good with letting them talk for a little bit more, but we can start actual class stuff whenever you'd like!
Stars, Sky & Slytherin Schoolmates
Lara did seem a little confused at the mention of Dungeons & Dragons, but she got the 'roleplay' part right. Nodding, Dot said, "Yep, it's a roleplay, not a sport." She paused, thinking for only a moment before speaking up again. "Well, the DM - I mean, the story's referee - creates a scene. Through the scene, we decide what our characters do and how our adventures should go. The DM goes along with this all. And there are limitations, like dices. For example, if you want your character to attack a monster, you'd first of all need a weapon. Then you'd need to roll some dices. You plus the number of your weapon to your dice number, and give the final number to the DM. The DM previously had a number in mind. If your number is equal to or bigger than the DM's, you can strike successfully. If not, the monster will strike you. And..." Dot stopped again, trying to find the exact words. After a moment of thinking, she gave up. "It's kind of complicated to explain. But it's fun. Mostly."
It had taken Dot herself almost three months to get the dices and numbers right. She had read the monsters' manual online, and figured out that the deeper you go in game, the complicated it gets. When you're battling harder and more vicious monsters, they have a defence/strength number which you minus from your final sum, and it mostly causes you your death. If you run out of consciousness, and your friends don't strike the monster for you, you're dead and have to start all over from the beginning, with zero experience points.
For the most part, Dot loved the game. It's complicity and difficultness made it even more exciting and worthy of time. Dot had met a few people this evening, and they all had together decided to do a gaming session on the weekend tomorrow, or maybe on Sunday.
As a newly-developed habit, Dot pulled out her pen from her robes' pocket and began twirling it in her right hand again and again, as she waited for the class to begin, and conversated with Lara.
It had taken Dot herself almost three months to get the dices and numbers right. She had read the monsters' manual online, and figured out that the deeper you go in game, the complicated it gets. When you're battling harder and more vicious monsters, they have a defence/strength number which you minus from your final sum, and it mostly causes you your death. If you run out of consciousness, and your friends don't strike the monster for you, you're dead and have to start all over from the beginning, with zero experience points.
For the most part, Dot loved the game. It's complicity and difficultness made it even more exciting and worthy of time. Dot had met a few people this evening, and they all had together decided to do a gaming session on the weekend tomorrow, or maybe on Sunday.
As a newly-developed habit, Dot pulled out her pen from her robes' pocket and began twirling it in her right hand again and again, as she waited for the class to begin, and conversated with Lara.
"When I die, I want free Wi-Fi fitted inside my tombstone, just so people will visit more often."
Stars, Sky & Slytherin Schoolmates
Honestly, the more Dot explained how to play Dungeons and Dragons to her, the more confused Lara got. She managed to somewhat conceal her bewilderment, keeping a fairly neutral, if a bit blank, expression fixed onto her face. It’s kind of complicated to explain, the other girl soon concluded. Lara wholeheartedly agreed.
Is it really that hard to understand? asked some small part of her. Or are you just stupid?
She didn’t feel like going into that right now. Mostly, she felt like going to bed and sleeping forever.
Somehow, Dot didn’t seem tired at all. Her energy was a sharp contrast, as average as it was, to many of the kids in the room, including to Lara herself. How was she doing it? Was she used to staying up so late? Had she managed to get a hold of some coffee or something? Lara wasn’t allowed caffeine, but maybe Dot’s parents didn’t care if she had it.
“Nice pen," she said offhandedly, gesturing to Dot's pen with her pencil. And then, moving on: "How are you so… Awake?” She propped her chin up on her hands, resting her elbows on the desk between her notebook and textbook. Nearby, she heard the professor give the Prefects permission to leave, which they did, clearly grateful. Lucky. For a moment, she wished irrationally she was a Prefect, too.
Is it really that hard to understand? asked some small part of her. Or are you just stupid?
She didn’t feel like going into that right now. Mostly, she felt like going to bed and sleeping forever.
Somehow, Dot didn’t seem tired at all. Her energy was a sharp contrast, as average as it was, to many of the kids in the room, including to Lara herself. How was she doing it? Was she used to staying up so late? Had she managed to get a hold of some coffee or something? Lara wasn’t allowed caffeine, but maybe Dot’s parents didn’t care if she had it.
“Nice pen," she said offhandedly, gesturing to Dot's pen with her pencil. And then, moving on: "How are you so… Awake?” She propped her chin up on her hands, resting her elbows on the desk between her notebook and textbook. Nearby, she heard the professor give the Prefects permission to leave, which they did, clearly grateful. Lucky. For a moment, she wished irrationally she was a Prefect, too.