9 Feb 2023, 22:32
The Science of Dueling
Dialogue: X | Thoughts: X
Outfit:
Reducio
As a first year at Hogwarts, dueling had not been her first priority until now. Not that she didn't enjoyed the sport or that she could not see the fun of it, no, it was because she didn't like to lose. And let's face it, the list of spells she already mastered was quite small in comparison to the other older students. But when it comes to people in her year she wasn't that far behind and it's with some people in her year that she has a score to settle. She knew it was forbidden for students to duel among themselves outside of the dueling club and without a responsible supervision... but first, she never knew when a certain someone would attack her without a fair warning and second, she wasn't exactly known as a rule follower. But the sum of these two factors didn't mean that she wouldn't prepare herself properly, and that's why her determined steps brought her there, to the fourth floor of that old castle. She stopped when she reached the heavy wooden door, taking a deep breath before entering the room. It was large and spacious, a lot more then she had imagined, she felt a little hesitant, not because of the choice she had made in going there, but because it was her first time entering it and she felt out of place. "Fine, you can do this!" She thought encouraging herself to keep walking towards the front of one of the dueling dummy.
There weren't many students there, and she felt relieved and grateful for that, the idea of having a lot of people watching and witnessing her failure wasn't an idea she was comfortable and very found with. She took the alder wand out of her pocket and felt it grow warm and fit perfectly in her right hand. Closing her eyes she tried to concentrate her mind into the spell she was about to cast and in it's target. She revised the right words before she open her eyes and raise her arm, "ta-RON-ta-LEG-gra", She said, the spell came off her wand and that was quite an achievement, judging by the shyness with which she cast it, her words were barely audible. But her target remained intact, it was as if only a light breeze had touched the dummy. "damn it" She muttered.
Where's your confidence? Common! She scolded herself in her thoughts. She took a look at her right side of the room, there was a group of Ravenclaws practicing a duel among them and an older girl practicing as well at one of the dummies, she knew there was more people in there but everyone was minding their businesses and couldn't care less about the young Slytherin. Realizing this helped her feel a little more comfortable in her new surroundings and among people she had never met before. Okay, let's try again! She said to herself in a low voice, loosening her arms a little in order to release some tension. When she felt ready, she tried again, "ta-RON-ta-LEG-gra" this time her voice had sounded louder and steadier but hadn't been yet enough to make the training dummy gain dancing feet, "Oh common!" She uttered stomping her feet on the floor in frustration.
She was now looking at the wooden and metal contraption with a human form, with a fierce and defiant look. What is what they say in movies? When they practice their aim? Oh right! Visualize your enemy! Some even draw their faces and place the drawing where their heads would be...maybe she should try to do something like that. The first thought that came to her mind was the image of a small girl with purple hair...but she immediately discarded the memory of her, since she had gone from school she no longer had the same effect on her...the same thought went to Chucky...but then...he appeared in her thoughts, that bloody blue-eyed bird that misfortune had put in her way. He was the reason why she was there, the reason she wanted to be fully prepared for a duel. Once again, for the third time she aimed her wand to her target, this time she was seeing the way he had looked at her, was hearing his words spoken with malice and how he had winked at her... "ta-RON-ta-LEG-gra" This time the words left her mouth with much more enthusiasm then what was required and the spell went flying throw the air failing its target. Instinctively, Rina crouched down to avoid being hit by the backfire, but then she realized that the magic had been absorbed by the enchanted wall, "Thanks Merlin!" She sighed straightening up again. Perhaps this wasn't her moment...perhaps she should go catch some fresh air and return another day...Yup! That is it! She thought while turning on her heels to start walking to the door, but footsteps coming her direction made her stop, she just wished that whoever they were, they were coming to help her and not to mess with her and with how ridiculously she had failed her spells.
Interacting with: @Fang Hui-Ming
Slightly mentioning: @Thorn Cullen | @Ava Winchect | @Ashley Dinero Montez
❦✾❦ Irina Meyer Sousa ❦✾❦
16 Feb 2023, 11:45
The Science of Dueling
Hui-Ming had been spending more and more time in the Dueling club lately, perhaps to the detriment of his other responsibilities. But after the fiasco that in the Slytherin Dorm, the bespectacled Chinese boy felt the need to be here, just in case.
At first, he had felt vindicated: he had always insisted that the magical world was fraught with dangers that no one seemed to give enough credibility to, but his triumph had quickly been replaced by horror, and then by a cold determination.
He was a Slytherin prefect now, and that meant that his people were no longer the small group of friends that he had had, but the entirety of the Hogwarts population clad in emerald. And if there was one thing he cared about, it was doing right by those that were his.
Perhaps that was why he noticed the new face. For even when he was just a duelist, the people who frequented in the dueling circuit was limited. And this was not a face he recognized.
Perhaps it was something else that drew his attention to the girl – there was a tension to her, and a firm determination, that was not there in many starry-eyed first years; starstruck as they were by the splendor and glamor of the magical world.
She had decent nimbleness, for all the trouble she had in her casting; and moved in a way that reminded him, bizarrely of Henry Knight. It was an absurd thought; had did not know the girl, and making unkind connections that were not there would serve no one.
He shook his head, clearing his thoughts off the troublesome older student and wondering about a possible troublesome younger one instead. Ming would teak slow, deliberate steps towards the girl. It would not do to spook the girl, who looked about ready to feel the scene right then and there. She might cast on him. Or worse, run away. And wouldn’t that be a right tragedy?
She had heard his footsteps, it seemed, for she froze. Like a deer in front of the headlights.
Oh dear, that can’t possibly be good
“That was… rather eventful.” Hui-Ming had the posh Londoner accent, and a careful enunciation of his words; even if it lacked depth of emotion. Everything about the new dueling captain, from the fine quality of his clothes, to his posture, to the utter lack of creases and folds, spoke of a diligent heir of a well-to-do family. It was a reputation he worked hard to maintain.
The smallest of frowns creased his pretty face, as dark eyes studied the girl in front of him. He had seen her in passing, like he had so many others; but now his attention was solely on her. Dark eyes studied her intensely for a long moment, attempting to discern insights into her personality from even the smallest visible clues about her person.
But then the moment passed, and Hui-Ming gave a small nod. “I do hope you’re alright, Miss?”
The curtains fell. And the silence was deafening
18 Feb 2023, 00:22
The Science of Dueling
Dialogue: X | Thoughts: X
Outfit:
Reducio
Rina closed her eyes with a painful expression anxiously waiting for whoever was walking her way to stop next to her or say something. She knew she wasn’t being at her best in there, the spells went all wrong. First, due to her insecurities and then, due to the fact that just the idea of certain people was sufficient to put her mind out of place. She knew that that was not a way to properly cast a spell, but her emotions were speaking louder lately and she hadn’t been able to act with rationality and concentration. Perhaps she should train that first…feel better prepared next time.
“That was… rather eventful.” Came his calm and pleasant voice from her right. Rina then opened her eyes and started to look at him from the corner of her eyes before slowly turn to him. She recognized who he was, despite never had spoken to him she knew he was a prefect from her house. Ming…Ming something…or something Ming? His dark eyes were looking at her intently and for a moment she felt a tendril of panic thinking she was in trouble again, she was waiting for him to start to scolding her or call her pathetic… but his eyes were still lingering in her and he didn’t said one more word. What was he trying to see in her? She suddenly felt self-conscious, she was almost his size but putting them side to side was like playing contrasts. He looked…perfect, Rina thought it was the right word. His clothes were tidy and impeccable, its fabrics were rich showing that he was from a family with good influence or at least wealthy processions. Was he another one with an ancient and powerful family of blood purists? Rina was a little tired of getting to meet those kind of people to be honest. Judging by his expression maybe he was also noticing how different she was from him, her clothes were also clean but nothing to fancy…her hair was tied but she knew that some locks were loose and some curls will be all bouncing and falling in a mess. His skin was perfect without any trace of scars, and if he looked closer he inevitably would found some in hers. His lips were hydrated while hers were dry…She found herself staring at every single detail in him until she found his eyes again and something just woke up in her mind…he made her a question? No? What had he said? She was trying to remember, biting her bottom lip and feeling her ears getting warm along with her cheeks. Her eyes fell to the ground at her feet, Oh Merlin! That was embarrassing! She thought wanting to run away from him and just hide in a hole somewhere. Good job! Now he would think she had far more problems then just a terrible spell casting!
“I do hope you’re alright, Miss?” He finally asked. Did he found what he was searching for? Something told her that a messy and somehow clumsy and troublesome first year girl was not really fit in his category of a nice acquaintance. Clearing her throat and after having a deep breath, Rina finally found courage to look at him again. She tried to give him her best sweet smile and reached out her hand towards him, “Sousa…Irina Meyer Sousa, first year! Nice to meet you, Mr…Ming?” She said shyly but trying to keep her voice sounding confident. Please take my hand back or I’ll feel like dying here…a thought with a little despair came to her mind. She was keep smiling at him but inside she was feeling like she could start to cry of embarrassment at any minute, she was certain that he could still see her blushing cheeks and that was enough to make her feel like about to evaporate in thin air.
Interacting with: @Fang Hui-Ming
❦✾❦ Irina Meyer Sousa ❦✾❦