closed Fell into the trap

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MAEVE M. SELWYN. │ │ outfit · slytherin robes status · open to interaction interacting · @Elektra Jett Konstantine mentioning · same as above

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Sunny days, the rare and true joy still found in Maeve Selwyn's life. A reminder of her passions, hours spent out in the sun playing quidditch and chasing after hares. If careful enough, they could even be spotted on Hogwarts grounds; albeit chased away by tormenting upperclassmen or even the caretaker. Naturally, an opportunity to revel in such weather could not be passed up. Alongside classes having her beat, a change to the usual Transfiguration homework seemed to be overdue anyway.

The blonde typically kept to her spots; underneath the stadium benches, hanging around Professor McLoughlin's classroom to help with plants, but today appeared to hold a different plan. Too long had it been since she stared out at that lake below, the memory of her arrival flooding back to her. As heartwarming as that night began, the sadness of it washed over her all the same. Too late was it now to forget like she usually did, though truly were only attempts in vain. Instead, she'd turned bitterly away from the glimmering body of water, spinning on her heel to feel something nudge just under it.

It was only then that a thud presented itself, along with a girl seemingly the same size as Maeve. Though wild looking, perhaps due to the dirt now blending into her already brown hair. It was a rather peculiar sight if any, and a part of her wondered just what she'd been doing perched up in a tree in the first place. Was she daft? For a moment, it reminded her of her own stunts she'd pulled back home. But alas, Maeve had done well to remember her place. Or rather, forget entirely.

The hostility in the child's voice caught Maeve by surprise, though hardly insulting. "You'd do well to mind your manners," She replied cooly, icy words piercing through the warm, spring air. She was in no mood to quarrel, nonetheless with what seemed to be a bratty.. Hufflepuff? As if she needed any more reminder that cliche house traits don't align 100%, her eyes scanned over the clearly distressed student and then back to the contraption on the ground. "After all, not sure I'm the one laying.. traps." A small giggle escaped her lips, though hardly malicious. The stoicism returned to her face once more, kicking the rope near her foot closer to the girl she'd conveniently not offered her help to.

"I'd recommend leaving the Tarzan act at home, people tend to stare." She added on whilst finally lending out a hand, curious if the strange girl would take it at all.

ELEKTRA J. KONSTANTINE first year ◇ hufflepuff date: 28th of April interacting: @Maeve Selwyn

The blonde girl who looked down at her, really told Elektra to mind her manners, as if she didn't just cause her to fall down a notable height. Taking offense in the Slytherin's words, the scruffy looking girl pouted in a quite childish manner. Though in just a couple of seconds, she gave up on feeling peeved and accepted the hand offered to her.

It took her a moment of struggle to get back on her feet and she let out a groan when she finally managed to do so. "Thanks, I think I sprained my ankle." her sentence was followed with a sigh, sounding defeated. She brushed the excess dust on her knees with the back other hands, which unfortunately wasn't a big help to how messy she looked overall.

"How did you not see the trap on the ground?" she mumbled, glancing around to check if anyone else saw her hilarious yet painful fall as she untied the end of the rope from her wrist.

It's not that being stared at would mean anything to Elektra, but it was still more preferable to not be the subject of any laughs in a place that still felt unfamiliar. Feeling the subtle yet appreciable breeze of spring on her skin, the pain she felt during the fall seemed to get better already. That gave her the motivation to check her trap, who knows, maybe a little friend decided to walk in when she wasn't paying attention.

She kneeled down to pick up the cardboard box, but from the disappointed expression on her face it was clear that she didn't catch anything. "Ugh... I think we scared all the grasshoppers away." it was apparent in both her voice and the big, bright eyes that she looked at the other girl with, how dispirited she felt.

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MAEVE M. SELWYN. │ │ outfit · slytherin robes status · open to interaction interacting · @Elektra Jett Konstantine word count · 279

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Her grasp was firm, gently pulling upwards to help the girl to her feet. Maeve looked down at the grass once more, inspecting her ankle. If really sprained, she felt slight remorse. Admittedly, maybe she should have been watching where she was going. But at the same time who thinks it's a good idea to set something up like that? What for, would do her one better.

The Slytherin, despite her haughty impression, tried her best to remain friendly. It wasn't the badger's fault.. Well, maybe it was. Though innocent enough, and quite clear she'd been a bit embarrassed as a result. Rightfully so, Maeve didn't bother to think of the roles in reverse. Instead, she glanced back upwards, just about ready to escort her to Nurse Featherstone when the brunette scrambled to where the apparently empty trap lay.

"Grasshoppers? Maeve questioned, a tone of curiosity much more obvious than she'd preferred. She recalled fondly as she'd spent her own free time with her father, observing critters and insects just for the sake of it. Though this box method was all she'd been able to come up with? Cute, but amateur. Very amateur. Even so, the disappointment on her face was evident as Maeve gave a sympathetic smile in return.

"Well it's no wonder. You can't think those bugs are that stupid, can you?" Once again her tone was delivered pretentiously, albeit accidental. In turn, she knelt down just beside her to correct whatever harsh way she'd come across. "Everyone knows you have to lay a blanket trap instead. Poor things can't move so you can scoop 'em right up." Her kind demeanor was minimally offered, but offered nonetheless.

ELEKTRA J. KONSTANTINE first year ◇ hufflepuff date: 28th of April interacting: @Maeve Selwyn

Hearing how the girl standing next to her talked about grasshoppers, made Elektra's eyes slightly widen with excitement as a smile formed on her face. "I actually didn't know! Though, I don't think I should use my blanket for that." she paused for a split second before the last sentence, seeming like she really considered it.

As the blonde Slytherin continued to approach Elektra in a friendly manner, she was clearly cheering up. It could very likely be a result of nothing but politeness, but she was appreciative nonetheless. So far the pretty young girl seemed to not think badly of bugs, and she helped the clumsy Elektra when she fell down... Seemed like enough reason for an introduction.

The high spirited badger gave into her desire to befriend the other girl, "I'm Elektra by the way." she said while reaching her hand out for a handshake. Her face had a silly, oblivious smile that made her look like there was not a single thought in her mind.

Many people would either ignore or stick around her for a while only to sneer at her unreasonable behaviour every now and then, but now that someone was being nice, she sincerely wanted to respond without being awkward. "I'll admit, falling off a tree wasn't the smoothest way to meet someone." she giggled as she talked about the incident that made her grumpy a short while ago.

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MAEVE M. SELWYN. │ │ outfit · slytherin robes status · open to interaction interacting · @Elektra Jett Konstantine word count · 243

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The girl. Elektra, so she said, seemed to take up the offer after all. Peculiar name, or in any case not one she'd heard often. Nonetheless, the mutual feeling of goodwill slowly melted whichever lingering feelings of contrite away from Maeve entirely. Not a common occurrence, that much was true. In fact, nothing about this interaction said 'typical'. While not a loner by circumstance, Maeve perfectly orchestrated her time so that she wouldn't have to engage with other students. She was sure it didn't translate well, appearing as though some noble snob too bothered to speak with anyone. Though despite the dastardly reputation, some would find it ran far deeper.

"Selwyn. Maeve, Selwyn." She replied, the nature of beginning each introduction with her surname engrained properly into her brain. Alongside the lessons of manners she'd been taught, Mave knew a handshake lay soon thereafter. Brown eyes peered down at the delicate hand outstretched to her, reciprocating the gesture with a gentle motion. Whatever bitter tension surrounded them five minutes before appeared to have vanquished, shone away by the sun much like a patronus wards off dementors.

Maeve let out yet another giggle at her comment, nodding her head in agreement. "Certainly not, no. Although.." She exhaled gingerly, unsure as to whether she should tell her new found acquaintance. Not the most embarrassing story she held, and would if anything make for interesting conversation. "My first instance of magic was falling out a tree waaay higher than this one. Maybe we're both a little clumsy.."

ELEKTRA J. KONSTANTINE first year ◇ hufflepuff word count: 212 interacting: @Maeve Selwyn

While Maeve talked about her first instance of magic, Elektra was listening with such excitement. From the way she talked, to her mannerisms, there was something about the Slytherin girl that seemed very elegant, graceful, almost noble. All at the same time, she could talk about the things that a simple child like Elektra could enjoy, like climbing on trees and catching grasshoppers. What an interesting person, she thought.

Elektra had so many stories of little accidents due to goofing and playing around, like falling down and accidently getting hit by stuff, that the one she had just listened to sounded very tame. "It's so fun to climb trees, isn't it?" she asked cheerfully. Without even waiting for a respond, an idea has appeared in her mind that she thought was brilliant. She leaned slightly closer to the other girl, giving her an almost pleading look with innocent puppy eyes. "Let's climb one now!" she was definitely expecting a rejection for this offer, but wanted to give it a shot anyway.

"The lake looks beautiful from up there, you really need to see it." even though she wasn't too invested in the charm of the scenery, she thought it could've been a reason to justify the tiring and messy act of climbing.

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MAEVE M. SELWYN. │ │ outfit · slytherin robes status · open to interaction interacting · @Elektra Jett Konstantine word count · 287

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Maeve smiled at Elektra's enthusiasm and found her innocent curiosity to be refreshing. It had been a solid minute since she herself dared to meddle in something daunting, but seeing the young girl's eagerness made her keen to indulge. Something about climbing the tree told her she wouldn't be so lucky as to be saved like when she was younger, however. She glanced up at it as though to truly consider, taking in its height and the branches that seemed to stretch out to the sky.

As much as she wanted to entertain the girl's desire for adventure, she knew that agreeing and failing to do so could provide one too many complications. She nodded gently in agreement with her observation about the body of water, though turned to the Hufflepuff once more. "Aye, that I'm sure. Probably shouldn't though, already said you hurt your ankle once." Her hand gestured to the girl's lower leg, meeting her imaginative eyes.

Once again was a small smile offered in hopes she didn't take it personally, the most she could muster without appearing overly artificial. Typically she wouldn't mind sounding like such a spoilsport, much less to a complete stranger, but there was something oddly similar to Elektra that Maeve resonated with. Perhaps it was the wily side she had when younger, the side that flourished freely before forcing stereotypes upon her. Oh to wonder where that untamed girl was now.

"Besides, should likely head back to the castle anyway." She looked far past both the girl and tree, eyeing the structure of Hogwarts looming greatly over them. "You can walk back, can't you?" The question could come off sarcastic, though frankly, that was just the girl's cadence.

ELEKTRA J. KONSTANTINE first year ◇ hufflepuff word count 232 interacting: @Maeve Selwyn

The reasoning behind Maeve's rejection was indeed valid and now it would be unjustifiable to continue her attempts of convincing. After all, the Hufflepuff was too happy about having a new friend for this to bring her cheery mood down, there was no need to take it personal. "You're right... But we can do that once my ankle's better, right?" a childishly innocent smile appeared on her face once again as she looked into the blonde Slytherin's eyes.

She was almost forgetting about the pain present on her foot and ankle. The fact that someone she had just recently met remembered about her injury and seemed to care about her well-being, Elektra felt gratitude but wanted to prove there was no need for concern, she would hate to make her feel guilty.

"Can I walk?" She giggled and jumped a couple of inches off the ground three times. "It takes more than a fall to stop me!" her ankle indeed hurt but it was much more fun to ignore it at the moment. She could rest when it was time to sleep. Looking at the castle, the playful girl noticed how fast the day has passed. The scenery of Hogwarts was nothing like the boring muggle city she came from, maybe it was for this reason why she could never understand how the time passed when she was exploring and playing around.

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MAEVE M. SELWYN. │ │ outfit · slytherin robes status · open to interaction interacting · @Elektra Jett Konstantine word count · 251

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Despite the rejection Maeve delivered, she couldn't deny that the brunette Hufflepuff was quite the character. Eager, in any case.

Yellow tresses swayed delicately to the side as yet another pleasant breeze passed them by, the sun's kiss still lingering on her skin. She'd been glad to hear Elektra was alright, but suspected a downplayed regard for her however minimally injured limb. Ultimately choosing not to push, Maeve instead made a clicking noise with her tongue. Tk-tk, fast and indicating approval with the finger guns that followed. A mannerism especially learned from her father, one her mum didn't necessarily approve of either. Not ladylike, whatever that meant to such an innocent gesture. The mantra 'Maeve will be Maeve' hadn't existed without reason, anyway. "'Course we can." The statement was semi-truthful, given maybe one day she'd really climb it. Considering the idea was to fade from their minds entirely didn't provide too much certainty, however.

Watching her new 'friend' jump up and down made the witch both giggle and cringe, genuine laughter the only sound present upon the still grounds. Playfully Maeve waved in front of her as though to say she understood, made clear it would in fact take more than a tricky fall to wound her giddy spirit. Her friendliness once again bubbled to the surface, beckoning her head in the direction of the path. "Care to join me then?" In either case, Maeve was to leave, but she supposed doing it with company was better than none.

Maeve has left this thread, feel free to tag along after her.