13 Feb 2023, 22:36
Pain, Pines & Panting: Let’s Run
Outfit:
There was something so stupendous about the Black Lake at a quarter past six in the morning.
The winter sun had just risen from beyond the tall spruce and pine that dot the Scottish countryside, and as that sun came up, it shined its bright rays onto the meadow below, letting the light cascade off the murky waters by Laurence’s feet.
Buchanan took a deep breath, taking in notes of moss and earth, that smell that one could only smell when waking up to dew and frost in a solitary lea, somewhere far, far from settled life, in untouched wilderness.
His eyes scanned the horizon beyond, as the silhouettes that cascaded of the lake played in the morning sun, like children at the beach. The truth was that the land surrounding this new school of his reminded him of home, of Antrim. Not of busy Belfast, no, of beautiful Ballymoney in the calm Ulster countryside.
He would miss his old home. Hell, he already did. Sure, splendid Hogwarts Castle may have been larger, and no doubt more prestigious, but there was something about home that this school could scant hope to replace. The people, the life, even the Northern Irish sky felt different to whatever Laurence was living under now.
Just before the boy’s feet was a lengthy, coarse strip of shoreland, where the rough, cold waves of the loch smashed against the stones and pebbles that made up the meager stone beaches that flanked both Hogwarts and the Forbidden Forest. A yard or five from the water marked the boundary between grass and stone, and in many places, small patches of flowers and weeds grew, rising through whatever cracks the soil had not yet claimed. Behind Buchanan stood an amalgamation of several small hills, with the tallest hosting Hogwarts castle.
There just was something to solemn little places like these. Considering them to be just perfect when it came to getting away from it all, the large white stones that dotted these ends gave one just enough protection to find a place all to oneself. Usually, Laurence loved the attention, but now, he wouldn’t really want anyone to see him, drenched in sweat & panting like an animal.
The boy could feel his heart beating in his neck, and slowly but surely, his breath grew more irregular. The gravel beneath his feet scattered with every beat. Tap, tap, tap, followed by the sound of small stones skidding over one another. Every now and again, a pebble would drop into the lake by Laurence’s side, and each time it did, a drop of that dirty, foul water would land on his crisp white running shoes, spoiling them more and more.
He stopped, trying to catch his breath. huffing and puffing, Laurence slid his hands over his ankles, looking up, inspecting whatever there was to inspect, trying his best to distract him from his own supposed tiredness and incompetence.
Today he’d make it. Today he’d run five and a half miles in less than three quarters of an hour. He just ha-
Wait, what was that?
In the distance, he could make out a figure, and it seemed as though it came ever closer. Was that… another runner? So early in the morning?
@Rhys Read
(545 words)
Reducio
There was something so stupendous about the Black Lake at a quarter past six in the morning.
The winter sun had just risen from beyond the tall spruce and pine that dot the Scottish countryside, and as that sun came up, it shined its bright rays onto the meadow below, letting the light cascade off the murky waters by Laurence’s feet.
Buchanan took a deep breath, taking in notes of moss and earth, that smell that one could only smell when waking up to dew and frost in a solitary lea, somewhere far, far from settled life, in untouched wilderness.
His eyes scanned the horizon beyond, as the silhouettes that cascaded of the lake played in the morning sun, like children at the beach. The truth was that the land surrounding this new school of his reminded him of home, of Antrim. Not of busy Belfast, no, of beautiful Ballymoney in the calm Ulster countryside.
He would miss his old home. Hell, he already did. Sure, splendid Hogwarts Castle may have been larger, and no doubt more prestigious, but there was something about home that this school could scant hope to replace. The people, the life, even the Northern Irish sky felt different to whatever Laurence was living under now.
Just before the boy’s feet was a lengthy, coarse strip of shoreland, where the rough, cold waves of the loch smashed against the stones and pebbles that made up the meager stone beaches that flanked both Hogwarts and the Forbidden Forest. A yard or five from the water marked the boundary between grass and stone, and in many places, small patches of flowers and weeds grew, rising through whatever cracks the soil had not yet claimed. Behind Buchanan stood an amalgamation of several small hills, with the tallest hosting Hogwarts castle.
There just was something to solemn little places like these. Considering them to be just perfect when it came to getting away from it all, the large white stones that dotted these ends gave one just enough protection to find a place all to oneself. Usually, Laurence loved the attention, but now, he wouldn’t really want anyone to see him, drenched in sweat & panting like an animal.
The boy could feel his heart beating in his neck, and slowly but surely, his breath grew more irregular. The gravel beneath his feet scattered with every beat. Tap, tap, tap, followed by the sound of small stones skidding over one another. Every now and again, a pebble would drop into the lake by Laurence’s side, and each time it did, a drop of that dirty, foul water would land on his crisp white running shoes, spoiling them more and more.
He stopped, trying to catch his breath. huffing and puffing, Laurence slid his hands over his ankles, looking up, inspecting whatever there was to inspect, trying his best to distract him from his own supposed tiredness and incompetence.
Today he’d make it. Today he’d run five and a half miles in less than three quarters of an hour. He just ha-
Wait, what was that?
In the distance, he could make out a figure, and it seemed as though it came ever closer. Was that… another runner? So early in the morning?
@Rhys Read
(545 words)
Last edited by Laurence R. W. Buchanan on 25 Feb 2023, 19:36, edited 1 time in total.
CLARIOR HINC HONOS
14 Feb 2023, 14:53
Pain, Pines & Panting: Let’s Run
Reducio
dialogue
Rhys had started coming to the Great Lake in the mornings to clear their head before they had to endure yet another busy day of classes and being around so many people all the time. It was exhausting, and if they didn't take a moment to themselves in the morning, they would be irritable and cranky. Well, they were irritable and cranky anyways, but coming to the lake had started to help a bit with that.
Especially since they seemed to keep meeting people, people who sought them out as an acquaintance, or a friend of sorts, or just someone to interact with. They weren't becoming popular, per se, but they weren't exactly going unnoticed by their peers.
At the lake in the mornings, though, there was hardly anyone to notice Rhys.
Usually.
Today, they'd decided to try a hand at running. Their older brothers were both good runners, and Rhys had always been small and speedy, plus their mum speculated that running might help with their moods. She'd said this several times, but it wasn't until this particular day that Rhys decided to actually give it a go. They started out just walking, then gradually built their speed until they were at a steady jog. They stayed a bit away from the shore so as not to accidentally fall and slip into the water, instead running along the edge of the grass around the lake. Rhys didn't have a specific running goal, but they found that they actually liked how it felt to run in the cold, crisp air. It pinched their lungs with each inhale, and clouded out in irregular puffs with each exhale.
It wasn't long before Rhys's heart rate increased, and they started to sweat. They weren't exactly in the best running gear, with a jacket layered over their hoodie and paired with a pair of loose sweats. Despite the cold, they soon began to warm up and falter.
If Rhys was being honest, they did not entirely think this through. They'd left their water bottle in their dorm room, and they had not counted on getting drenched in sweat when the air was as cool as this. Soon enough, their hair plastered to their face, which flushed bright red with the effort it took to keep their pace and steady breathing.
To make matters worse, Rhys noticed another runner just ahead of them, coming from the other direction, and they silently swore under their breath. He was tall, and his legs easily carried his body forward with long, strides. Rhys immediately envied that, because their own legs were much shorter and it took more strides for them to run the same amount of distance. Also, this guy was in appropriate clothing for running. He, at least, knew what he was doing.
Distracted from their mental assessment, Rhys almost didn't notice that they'd effectively closed the distance and were about to collide with the other runner until seconds before it would've happened. They skidded to a stop and veered to the side, not-so-elegantly stumbling into the muddied gravel. They landed straight on their hip, wincing slightly before standing again and trying to catch their breath.
"Ah, sorry. I didn't see you," Rhys apologized. It was sort of the truth, since in their daze they hadn't noticed that they were about to crash into the boy. And then they'd fallen into the gravel like a deer that forgot how to run. Ever-so-graceful, and now their clothes were covered in mud.
@Laurence R. W. Buchanan
23 Feb 2023, 03:01
Pain, Pines & Panting: Let’s Run
Morning run. Something Rita always had a mixed feeling about. The Second Year Hufflepuff first-string beater with short straight black hair and a pair of yellow glasses always knew she had that slight issue with weight management since whenever the Second Year Hufflepuff beater with a sweet tooth saw those snacks, such as cookies and candies, she could not resist the temptation to grab some snacks even though she clearly knew those snacks were bad for her health and she even should not take a single bite of them. Since it was hard for the Second Year Hufflepuff beater to limit her food intake, the black-haired first-string beater decided that she should exercise more besides the Quidditch training. "When it comes to exercise, what is the simpler exercise than running? I literally just have to put on a pair of sneakers, do some warmup exercises, then I am done! Plus, endurance and stamina are also important for my Quidditch training! Let me put on my sneakers and go to the great lake then! I know it is tiring, but I feel the urge to do that!" The black-haired Hufflepuff beater thought when she put on her pair of sneakers and decided to go to the great lake for some morning running that particular morning.
When Rita arrived at the great lake and quickly finished her warm-up exercises, she noticed there were already a few people exercising around the great lake. To be specific, two Gryffindor kids Rita had barely seen before, let alone knowing their names, were running extremely fast around the lake. "Oh, those lion kids are running fast! I hope they would not mind my slow pace! Anyway, I must focus on my own pace and hopefully their past pace would not distract me!"
"It is merely a 5k! You can do this, Rita! Just focus on your pace and don`t let the fast paces of those boys distract you! It is not about the pace, it is about the time and the distance!" Rita murmured to herself as the Second Year Hufflepuff beater set off on the track and began to run at her own slow pace that she was already quite comfortable with.
Interacting with: @Laurence R. W. Buchanan @Rhys Read
Last edited by Rita Su on 29 Mar 2023, 00:43, edited 1 time in total.
Rita Su - Hufflepuff Andy Menton - Ilvermorny, Thunderbird
Color code: Rita: #560edd Andy: #c40e0e
Rita`s Ency Andy`s Ency Shop
24 Feb 2023, 11:48
Pain, Pines & Panting: Let’s Run
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500 words incl. codeWhatever that blotch in Laurence's gaze must have been, it kept closing in with him. The shining sun blocked his visage, and forced him to squint his eyes more and more, making it increasingly difficult to make out whatever it was that was swiftly approaching himself. It must have been half a minute before he recognised those curly brown locks, stubby legs & slouched shoulders. Their running posture was all over the place, and as far Buchanan could make out, their forehead bore numerous beads of sweat, which made them look thoroughly exhausted and overwhelmed.
Had Laurence seen them before? There was an air of familiarity to their face. Perhaps he'd shot them a glance at class this week? Or had he seen those locks in the common room? The more he thought, the more he drowned in the backrooms of his mind, like a drunken sailor shipwrecked at sea. As he tried to put two and two together, he naively failed to adjust his pace, and before he knew it, he was on a straight collision course with the runner before him.
Clumsily, he jumped out of the way, not-so-gracefully landing in the muddy waters beside him. As he flew through the air, he shot the other runner a quick side-eye, catching a glimpse of how they fell to the mass of small stones beneath them. As he made contact with that pool of moss and mud that he'd been forced to step on, he saw the damage of his dodging skills.
"Grand." the lad mused "I shined these slacks yesterday."
With quite some force, he pulled his left foot out the mud, and stepped over to the person beside him. It was quite typical of him to instinctively inspect his own shoes before the wellbeing of another person, so much so, in fact, that he failed to pay it any mind.
"Y'alright?"
He asked, helping his fellow student rise to their feet. Now that the two of them stood face-to-face, the heaps of sweat on the peer's face and clothes revealed themselves clearly. Laurence was embarrassed for them, and he could feel his gut wrenching at the sight. Yet, there was something about the student that intrigued him, something that told him that they'd met earlier, but he couldn't quite put his finger on where. Plus, maybe he could teach this poor sod a thing or two about running. By the state of their demeanor, and their exhausted appearance, they clearly hadn't been in the sport for too long.
"I could swear that I've seen you about before. What's your name?"
As he spoke, yet another runner approached, a girl a tad older than the two of them, sporting bright sneakers and yellow spectacles. He shot her a wide, toothy grin, baring his hooked ivory in the top-right corner of his mouth.
"Just a wee stumble, nothing serious." he laughed, assuming she'd come about to inquire about their wellbeing.
CLARIOR HINC HONOS
6 Mar 2023, 20:32
Pain, Pines & Panting: Let’s Run
Linda always likes to run in the morning, though usually she is going earlier than this time. This time she woke up little later and was thinking if she should take water with her or not.
Although why not, she knows very well that she will need it so much. This time she was planning to run more than usual. She collected her hair in braid and put it up, so it doesn't bother and doesn't sweat while running. She put on her purple T-shirt, black trousers and white sneakers. Maybe it doesn't look cool all together, but while running it should be comfortable, not cool or matching looking.
I think I never met anyone else who would run here, but how I can judge about it if I never was going out so late. I don't even know what I like more, but it's certainly unusual. Well, I will decide what I like more later, but how could I woke up later this time. I don't have time for it now, running is for feeling more relaxed, I can think about it later.
She was coming closer as she saw in front of her in some distance two boys and a girl. Really someone else is running here? Maybe just my eyes don't see well, I just woke up some time ago, but no, I saw it correctly. Interesting, are they new in running or they always were running here at this time of day. Maybe we could run together.
Interacting with @Laurence R. W. Buchanan, @Rhys Read, @Rita Su
Although why not, she knows very well that she will need it so much. This time she was planning to run more than usual. She collected her hair in braid and put it up, so it doesn't bother and doesn't sweat while running. She put on her purple T-shirt, black trousers and white sneakers. Maybe it doesn't look cool all together, but while running it should be comfortable, not cool or matching looking.
I think I never met anyone else who would run here, but how I can judge about it if I never was going out so late. I don't even know what I like more, but it's certainly unusual. Well, I will decide what I like more later, but how could I woke up later this time. I don't have time for it now, running is for feeling more relaxed, I can think about it later.
She was coming closer as she saw in front of her in some distance two boys and a girl. Really someone else is running here? Maybe just my eyes don't see well, I just woke up some time ago, but no, I saw it correctly. Interesting, are they new in running or they always were running here at this time of day. Maybe we could run together.
Interacting with @Laurence R. W. Buchanan, @Rhys Read, @Rita Su
Will is able to change even the lines on our palms
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9 Mar 2023, 17:59
Pain, Pines & Panting: Let’s Run
"Y'alright?" Asked the student that Rhys had narrowly avoided colliding with, helping them as they stood. As Rhys paused to look at the taller student more closely, it suddenly became apparent just how out of their depth they were with this running stuff. Here was clearly a boy who was used to running, and there was Rhys, a staggering mess who had no business even trying running. They were suddenly very self-conscious, and pinked slightly (though not noticeably, they hoped, as their face was already quite red from running along the edge of the lake). But before they could respond, the boy was talking again. "I could swear that I've seen you about before. What's your name?"
"Yeah," Rhys managed, before getting sidetracked as another runner approached-- a girl with dark, ivory hair and yellow glasses.
The boy spoke to the newcomer, describing the situation as "just a wee stumble, nothing serious," and Rhys bit back the remark that rose in their throat. They couldn't blame him for dismissing the situation to someone else, and part of them was grateful that he brushed it off to this new girl. But for some reason, another part of Rhys was bothered. For some reason, they felt inclined to dislike this boy. While it was just a 'stumble', as the boy had put it, Rhys had noted that he had appeared to inspect his shoes-- which would have been stark white if not for the mud and grass all over them-- before paying them any mind. He, Rhys realized, reminded them of their older brother, Rhun, in that moment. Tall, jock-ish, and seemingly obsessed with the cleanliness of his slacks.
But they didn't know this boy, and would give him the benefit of the doubt. After all, not every jock with white slacks that they encountered would be like their brother, who was a prick and another story altogether. Still, Rhys thought as they looked at the taller student, they supposed that they couldn't be too careful.
"Er, Rhys Read," They replied finally, glancing at the girl who'd come upon the two. Just past her, they registered the form of another girl jogging towards them in a purple t-shirt. Looking back to the taller student, Rhys crossed their arms. "You're familiar to me, too. Who're you?" It was only fair that they asked, since they'd been asked their name, and so they asked his. Who was this boy they'd almost crashed into, with his muddied slacks and incredible posture? They glanced at the girl with the yellow glasses, and figured they might as well include her in the interaction as well. She was already there, after all. Rhys nodded to her. "The question extends out to you, as well."
"Yeah," Rhys managed, before getting sidetracked as another runner approached-- a girl with dark, ivory hair and yellow glasses.
The boy spoke to the newcomer, describing the situation as "just a wee stumble, nothing serious," and Rhys bit back the remark that rose in their throat. They couldn't blame him for dismissing the situation to someone else, and part of them was grateful that he brushed it off to this new girl. But for some reason, another part of Rhys was bothered. For some reason, they felt inclined to dislike this boy. While it was just a 'stumble', as the boy had put it, Rhys had noted that he had appeared to inspect his shoes-- which would have been stark white if not for the mud and grass all over them-- before paying them any mind. He, Rhys realized, reminded them of their older brother, Rhun, in that moment. Tall, jock-ish, and seemingly obsessed with the cleanliness of his slacks.
But they didn't know this boy, and would give him the benefit of the doubt. After all, not every jock with white slacks that they encountered would be like their brother, who was a prick and another story altogether. Still, Rhys thought as they looked at the taller student, they supposed that they couldn't be too careful.
"Er, Rhys Read," They replied finally, glancing at the girl who'd come upon the two. Just past her, they registered the form of another girl jogging towards them in a purple t-shirt. Looking back to the taller student, Rhys crossed their arms. "You're familiar to me, too. Who're you?" It was only fair that they asked, since they'd been asked their name, and so they asked his. Who was this boy they'd almost crashed into, with his muddied slacks and incredible posture? They glanced at the girl with the yellow glasses, and figured they might as well include her in the interaction as well. She was already there, after all. Rhys nodded to her. "The question extends out to you, as well."
Reducio
Interacting with @Laurence R. W. Buchanan @Rita Su
mentioning @Linda Ramirez
mentioning @Linda Ramirez
30 Mar 2023, 00:58
Pain, Pines & Panting: Let’s Run
A few minutes go by, and the black-haired Second Year Hufflepuff first-string beater was ironically, already huffing and puffing. Looking around while running, she saw a girl also running in the morning. So, two boys and two girls, it seemed that running in the morning was kind of popular in Hogwarts, which was kind of surprising when the Hufflepuff first-string beater with short straight black hair cos this was a wizarding world and she believed running was more of a muggle thing. "But you need stamina in order to thrive in those wizard sports, so it kinds of still make sense when you think about it, isn`t it?' Rita thought while looking around and trying her best to run as fast as she could.
When Rita finally caught up with one of the two boys, she heard the boy calling her. "Well, my name is Rita, and I guess I`m just running to keep fit. I was wondering if you can slow down a little bit so I can catch up with you. You guys all run so fast and I am really struggling." The Second Year Hufflepuff first-string beater called out to the other kids who were also running on the track while also trying her best to catch up with them, and wondered why they could all run so fast and if they could run a little slower for her to catch up. "They are probably much better at running then me so I`m not sure whether they would slow down or not, but let`s see!" The black-haired Second Year Hufflepuff beater thought when she was really strugglking but still trying her best to run.
Interacting with: @Laurence R. W. Buchanan @Rhys Read @Linda Ramirez
Rita Su - Hufflepuff Andy Menton - Ilvermorny, Thunderbird
Color code: Rita: #560edd Andy: #c40e0e
Rita`s Ency Andy`s Ency Shop