Of Slumber parties and Secrets PV Closed

"hey mom, hey dad
when did this end? where did you lose your happiness?
i'm here alone, inside this broken home."

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SILENCE was bliss, isn't that what people said? When it got so silent you could hear your ears ringing, wasn't that a thing? Prior to the month of November, the thought that silence could be anything other than torturous had never crossed Rhea's mind. The Gryffindor was always one to thrive off noise, engage in conversations. The fact that she had kept to herself for almost half of November was a fact that she herself found hard to believe. 

But she had a reason. One would assume that nothing, no matter how big, would cause Rhea to retract within herself, but quite frankly there was a variety of reasons that caused her to become quieter than usual. Less enthusiastic than usual. Colder than usual. 

And that, of course, was her father. Was it a really a surprise? He, unbeknownst to him (or maybe he did know and this was all a part of some sort of messed up plan), had been the cause of so many of her issues and misery. This particular time, it had been a letter. Usually, his words would not affect her as much - but Rhea had just turned thirteen, her emotions and hormones were all out of wack due to the stressful week of school she'd had, so she'd gotten ten times more upset about the letter. 

From that faithful day, she'd brought the letter with her everywhere she went. In classes, it was hidden in the folds of her robe, sometimes stuck in pages between her textbooks. On the weekends, it was in the pocket of her jeans as she read and did her homework, or sometimes even on her bedside desk. Wherever she went, it was a constant reminder of what her father wished to her. A sane person would have thrown the letter away, gone on with their lives - but Rhea was easily influenced by her parents. She cared what they thought, even if they didn't care about her. 

Everyday, she woke up at 6, studying to get the best notes she could. She'd stay up until ten pm, eleven pm, sometimes even midnight, reading further into her textbooks or just getting lost in subjects that she wanted to learn more about. In theory, this was not such a bad thing - but she had pushed away her friends, delving into her studies. It was almost as if she were a Ravenclaw! Not that that was a bad thing, of course, it just wasn't Rhea. 

Where was her want for adventure? Her want to explore, to do things she would never have done before? Nonexistent, apparently, as Rhea remained cooped up in her dorm room all day long. She had no want to leave, other than for breakfast and classes. Once in a while she descended to the common room, but only to do her homework by the fireplace. Even then, she was chased out by older students who wanted the fireplace to themselves.

Thus, Rhea had spent the majority of the month by herself. Her birthday had come and passed; no one acknowledged it, not that they had reason to. The only thing she received was a letter from Aida wishing her a happy birthday with some sweets attached, which she still kept hidden beneath her bed. Otherwise - either no one cared, or no one remembered. But hey, what did it matter?

The only thing that spurred Rhea to attend was the fact that she would miss out on anything interesting that would happen - people would have inside jokes about the slumber party, and she'd find herself feeling awkward out on the sidelines. Her previous nature came out in that decision; her want to be included in everything. 

Sighing heavily, Rhea got dressed. Her outfit was nothing special, just something she had found at the top of her trunk. It was the first time in a while Rhea hadn't cared about her appearance, or at least, not as much as she used to. Her jeans were ripped at the knees, the hole wider than it originally had been due to the amount Rhea had worn them. The shirt she chose was a salmon pink sweater, a little bit big on her, but enough that it was comfortable. Taking account of the cold, Rhea found a big fur coat, throwing it on as well as a hat. As for her hair, she left it down. It was slowly getting blonder and blonder, a fact that threw Rhea off quite a bit. But she paid it no mind, for as long as it was still red there was no reason for her to concern herself. 

Bringing along a shoulder bag, too, packed with some textbooks, parchment and paper, as well as a few other rubbish that she probably did not need, Rhea followed the rest of the Gryffindors outside. She had heard that some sleeping bags had already been set up by the Head of House, which she was glad for. The Bishop had no desire to carry her own sleeping bag over to the campgrounds. 

By the time she arrived to the destination, there were quite a few students about. Not stopping to greet any familiar faces, or anyone at all, Rhea made her way to a sleeping bag near the corner and set down her stuff. Her hair fluttered around her face, so with a harsh huff, Rhea tucked a large strand behind her ear. Taking off her hat, she sat down and pulled out a heavy book. It spoke about the history of potions and potion-making; the history of, quite frankly, everything, intrigued Rhea, which was why she had chosen that specific book. The Gryffindor figured she had inherited the passion for history from her grandfather, who had been a Curse-Breaker himself. She hoped to something like him, follow in his footsteps and honor his memory. Which was part of why she was so intent on studying and doing well. 

Taking a break from her book for a moment, Rhea looked up and around. Both unfamiliar and familiar faces greeted the girl, but she felt no want to approach anyone. It was far too much effort, and Rhea was too enthralled with her book.

Outfit (fitted for a 13 year old).

Interactions: @Bellamy Landon | open to others

If anyone were to have asked why the blonde girl, who looked as though she were already dying to leave, how she ended up here to begin with, she might have lied and said that she was convinced by a friend that this would have been fun. But alas, she had no friends with her, no students to drag her from place to place or even just chat with her. So why had she come here? Did she think that this would be a fun occasion and that it would be a staple in her second year? Perhaps not. She didn't entertain such thoughts. And neither could she say that she felt as though it was her "civic duty" as a Prefect to make an appearance at such events. She could care less if it looked good on her part or not. It wasn't listed as a requirement that she had to like others, let alone want to spend time with them.

So when the time of the Slytherin's arrival came, she stopped, much like a caesura, contemplating her next move before continuing. And she couldn't help but feel as though she were the only one taking this action. This notion made only by herself, as she was trapped in a sea of moving children and she was the only one who might have felt uncomfortable (or so it seemed), even more regret filled her. She shivered, her two hoodies not doing it for her. It was cold and dark. She looked to the never-ending sea that was the sky, but not a single star alignment could tell her why she was here. Why she had made such an impulsive decision. As a Leo, she was stereotyped into being driven by the desire to be loved or admired, and while, yes, Alexx could confess to being driven by those things, in her waspish state, she would have said that being here would make no difference. She knew little of those who had made an appearance, and the rest she was left with just having barely seen their faces in a crowd.

However, on such an unsatisfying night, one where she would have much rather stayed in the confines of her dormitory, perhaps being found reading a comic book, her eyes flickered to a boy, one who was away from the crowd that seemed to be as busy as a beehive, and was found eating a bag of chips instead. She smiled weakly, shaking her head. It was typical of her, despite her disliking of most, to become fixated on one person, which, in more cases than not, would drag her into making an introduction. And she could note this boy for being a Prefect, as that was something she seemed to have kept tabs on. All the more excuses to speak to him. But it wasn't as if she needed one, considering that she knew she could just pass it off as being friendly (since, in a more literal sense, that was actually what it was). So, hesitantly, she made her way to him, pondering over what it was that she could say.

When the boy came more into sight, she took in his features, observing him. He had black hair, and his skin pigment reflected that of a tan color. He was opposite to her lighter features, which was a satisfying artistic concept. "Bonsoir," she greeted, her habit of using a French tongue getting the better of her, despite that she knew most would know what it means, or just that many here knew the French language in general. "would it bother you if I kept you company? I do hope I'm not intruding." She asked, a soft smile painting itself across her porcelain cheeks which, tonight, were stained with a rosy red from the chill that bit at her skin. Even without the sun, which would have cast a golden glow upon her, making her sparkle, she possessed a glimmer in the blue of her eyes, one that read like la mer, a deep yet active body of water, more commonly referred to in English as "the sea", and though it was not enchanting, she hoped that, in the least, the emotions that she conveyed would be enough to convince him.

hoodie

Interactions: November Morsus and, echoing him, enthusiastically Open!

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The raven-haired boy questioned the soundness of his decision to attend the slumber party all the way to the lush clearing where the said... party was to be held.

It wasn't even a matter of missing a few important hours of study he could have done in the library for the duration of the event--he can simply bring one of his books and study materials to the venue--and besides, he'd still get Os with minimal effort. For that matter, he was walking casually down the trail under the twilit sky, glowing wand in one hand, school book in the other. It also wasn't the matter of past events in the last year devolving into what could only be called chaos--although it was definitely a con. No, Dmitri simply didn't attend any of them, choosing to continue burying his nose into his study materials and get Os while all his other classmates chose to forego academic success in favor of... injuries, possible near-death experiences, and overall risks to human lives.

Now that he thought about it, the problem lay there; he wasn't necessarily the best at socialization. While most of his peers found out the last year how "fun"--and dangerous--Hogwarts was, the raven-haired boy found out just--how should he put it--how not-to-his-tastes most of the students in his year were. For all the socialization he has done during most of half of the term (and he did a lot, having high hopes that he would finally find people he could vibe with), Dmitri has only ever found snotty Ravenclaws, unscrupulous Gryffindors and weak-willed Hufflepuffs. It got to the point where the boy would go so far as to be pleasantly surprised if he found one student he liked (he found a few students he treasured, naturally, but that was all).

And so, quite hesitantly, Dmitri Jones chose this event to try to give the newer students the benefit of the doubt. This year, I'll try to be social! was what he thought to himself over and over again to convince himself to just leave his books for a moment and go out of the castle for something other than classes. 

He'd give social interaction a chance.

However, as he'd arrive at the venue, an irrational irritation radiating through the length of his body would make him freeze in his tracks. The party was already underway. All throughout the site were his fellow students already getting acquainted with each other, laughing, talking animatedly--the whole schtick.  It was... definitely festive. All throughout were sleeping bags and he moved to take one so he'd avoid running out of places to sleep. In the middle was a table full of goodies and delicious finger foods. He was craving some of them, but after seeing a few kids clustered around, he reconsidered.

Why did I come here? Dmitri thought to himself. He'd flinch as a particularly loud burst of laughter reverberated somewhere in the group where the Gryffindors were. This was what you wanted, wasn't it, Dmitri? He'd chuckle ruefully to himself and shook his head as he stationed his sleeping bag in front of a tree, a little ways away from the larger group. He didn't know why, but he was more comfortable there--where all the noise wasn't too... stifling. 

Looking around, the boy couldn't help but wonder why he couldn't find one way to start a conversation or approach someone. Normally, the Slytherin was pretty confident in his own skin, going so far as letting anybody he meets know just how very much so. But in this little cozy clearing  under the night sky where fireflies flitted through the trees and the grass rustled under the gentle breeze, Dmitri's confidence and self-esteem seemed to be eluding him.

Interacting with @Aurelia Bezuidenhout and @Alexandra Edwards

Ruby had been to sleepovers before, but never ones of this scale. She was a bit unsure about going, but she was definitely starting to feel comfortable in her house – Slytherin – and the school. She knew that many people from her house would be going, and she knew that Gryffindors would be involved too, including some that she had met before. Ruby had a love of nature, but even if she wouldn't go for the people or just to be outdoors, this event could be seen as an adventure, which was something she couldn't ignore. It could be fun to get outside and hang out with other students – relax a little. Relaxing occasionally was good if you worked hard at other times. If this event turned out to be fun and exciting, that was a bonus, but if not, at least there was the prospect of finding out new information and analyzing people.

Part of Ruby's nature was to analyze and learn about other people. She couldn't help it, as it was practically ingrained into her very being by now. She was an analytical and observant person, and also had a good memory, a desire for information, the ability to act and lie skillfully, an inquisitive nature, intelligence, and an urge to calculate everything. The combination of these often benefited her, and it was one of her sources of power, making her a dangerous person to betray or anger. She could see through many people’s lies, masks, and false feelings, partially because she did and created those things for herself and could then recognize it in others, and partially because she had studied body language and knew how to see things like that. Another thing that Ruby did subconsciously was carry herself in a certain way. She was constantly straight-backed and didn’t even notice it by now. She had an air of sharp intelligence, sophistication, confidence (but not necessarily arrogance), and something else, such as ambition, determination, passion, power, or all four.

Today, Ruby was dressed comfortably and practically. She wore warm clothes that she could be active in, but made sure that they were pristine, clean, presentable, and good-looking, as always. She didn’t want to be seen as messy or anything less than what many pureblood families, not just her own, would consider to be good. Her hair was worn in a fishtail braid, and she thought that it was practical enough, since it kept all her hair tied up and off her face.

When Ruby neared the area, she was simultaneously impressed, displeased, and in awe. It certainly seemed beautiful, but it also seemed to be fake, in some ways. That was what made her displeased. Nature was stunning and wonderful enough without magical people feeling like they had to go charm it, improve it, or make it any more beautiful than it already was. When she got a closer look, she discovered that it didn't actually seem to have much magic used on it, even though it was so at contrast with the rest of the forest. Ruby breathed in deeply. She loved the smell of the outdoors, especially in woods when gentle breezes rustled the leaves on the trees and the blades of grass and carried the scents to her nose. She had spent much of her childhood in forests and near trees, and was a very skilled climber by now. Currently, she resisted the urge to dart up a tree and be comforted by the familiar feel of branches and leaves, and have the wind blow on her face and hair. But no, first she had some things to do and people to observe or talk to. After that, she would be able to relax a bit.

She was one of the first ones to arrive, and she waited for others to come and settle, watching who went to which people or stayed alone, observing the behavior and actions of the students and teachers alike, and noting every detail she could about everyone that arrived. Ruby was surprised to realize how many people she knew or recognized. She would definitely attempt to talk to some of them eventually, but this was a perfect opportunity to find people she didn't know and learn more about them. If people approached her, then she wouldn't avoid talking to them, but there were some people she would target first.

Two of these people were Gryffindors who had begun to socialize with each other. She was focused on one in particular who appeared to be a second year. She seemed to be confident and somewhat disdainful, which Ruby found quite interesting. It was certainly possible that she might not get along well with the girl or that the Gryffindor had a bias against Slytherins, but it was worth trying. She made her way over to them at a break in their conversation.

Interactions: Rainer Green and Xailah Alptraum

Dmitri Jones wrote: 3 Dec 2018, 16:42

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The raven-haired boy questioned the soundness of his decision to attend the slumber party all the way to the lush clearing where the said... party was to be held.

It wasn't even a matter of missing a few important hours of study he could have done in the library for the duration of the event--he can simply bring one of his books and study materials to the venue--and besides, he'd still get Os with minimal effort. For that matter, he was walking casually down the trail under the twilit sky, glowing wand in one hand, school book in the other. It also wasn't the matter of past events in the last year devolving into what could only be called chaos--although it was definitely a con. No, Dmitri simply didn't attend any of them, choosing to continue burying his nose into his study materials and get Os while all his other classmates chose to forego academic success in favor of... injuries, possible near-death experiences, and overall risks to human lives.

Now that he thought about it, the problem lay there; he wasn't necessarily the best at socialization. While most of his peers found out the last year how "fun"--and dangerous--Hogwarts was, the raven-haired boy found out just--how should he put it--how not-to-his-tastes most of the students in his year were. For all the socialization he has done during most of half of the term (and he did a lot, having high hopes that he would finally find people he could vibe with), Dmitri has only ever found snotty Ravenclaws, unscrupulous Gryffindors and weak-willed Hufflepuffs. It got to the point where the boy would go so far as to be pleasantly surprised if he found one student he liked (he found a few students he treasured, naturally, but that was all).

And so, quite hesitantly, Dmitri Jones chose this event to try to give the newer students the benefit of the doubt. This year, I'll try to be social! was what he thought to himself over and over again to convince himself to just leave his books for a moment and go out of the castle for something other than classes. 

He'd give social interaction a chance.

However, as he'd arrive at the venue, an irrational irritation radiating through the length of his body would make him freeze in his tracks. The party was already underway. All throughout the site were his fellow students already getting acquainted with each other, laughing, talking animatedly--the whole schtick.  It was... definitely festive. All throughout were sleeping bags and he moved to take one so he'd avoid running out of places to sleep. In the middle was a table full of goodies and delicious finger foods. He was craving some of them, but after seeing a few kids clustered around, he reconsidered.

Why did I come here? Dmitri thought to himself. He'd flinch as a particularly loud burst of laughter reverberated somewhere in the group where the Gryffindors were. This was what you wanted, wasn't it, Dmitri? He'd chuckle ruefully to himself and shook his head as he stationed his sleeping bag in front of a tree, a little ways away from the larger group. He didn't know why, but he was more comfortable there--where all the noise wasn't too... stifling. 

Looking around, the boy couldn't help but wonder why he couldn't find one way to start a conversation or approach someone. Normally, the Slytherin was pretty confident in his own skin, going so far as letting anybody he meets know just how very much so. But in this little cozy clearing  under the night sky where fireflies flitted through the trees and the grass rustled under the gentle breeze, Dmitri's confidence and self-esteem seemed to be eluding him.

"Xailah? Is that you?"

"Where on earth did you get such wondrous clothes?"

Interacting: Alan Vanes, mentions Professor Wright, Professor Jensen, Alexx Helm, Bellamy Landon

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