Welcome Back Everyone!! Errand Closed

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𝑀𝑒𝓃𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈: @ 𝐼𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈: @Linda Ramirez

⟵ ---------------------------------- Thoughts | Speech

𝒪𝒪𝒞 𝒩𝑜𝓉𝑒 Reducio

Mellani entered the Great Hall, hoping to maybe eat a small snack or something, because for once, she actually felt like eating something. Her thoughts kept going to Olive, no matter how hard she tried to find distractions or to forget.

Mellani had expected another peaceful day, with maybe a small chatter or something, but what she saw surprised her. There were way to many people, and there seemed to be some kind of party or something. Mellani's first reflex was to walk away from there before anyone notice her, but curious as she was, she moved forward slowly.

She finally understood what was going on. Apparently they were supposed to write letters for how their summer went or something and send it to someone else. Mellani had done a few of these "errands" before, and people mostly left her alone on those, so she wished that would be the case today too. She quietly picked up a parchment and quill and sat at an empty table, deciding to write the letter to Linda, since she had spent a bit of the summer with her. Probably the bit where she smiled her last genuine smile.

Mellani was not really sure what to write. Maybe she'd just put down the happy parts and skip out everything else which would probably lead to a very short letter, but at least it would be the truth. She took a quill and parchment and began to write.

Dear Linda,

I guess this is my letter telling you how my summer went. I had a lot of fun at the summer camp doing different things and meeting a lot of new people. I enjoyed spending time with you too! After that, I went home and met my family and friends. I guess that's it.

Love,
Mellani

Yeah, it was definitely the shortest letter she had ever written, but then, there wasn't much to say. She was not going to lie just to make the letter long, and she was not going to tell the full truth in fear of Linda pitying her or talking about it all the time. She was just giving a short, sweet version, letting Linda think what she wanted to think.

She decided to go to the owlery later and send the letter, even though she could literally just walk up to Linda and give it to her. The only reason she did not do that was because she was scared that Linda might open and read the letter, and then might start asking questions about what Mell did while she was at her house. Questions that Mellani was not ready to answer. She had had a hell of a month, and she really, really did not want to talk about it.

She sighed as she looked around at all the happy faces. If only she was one of them, but here she was, sitting alone while putting the little energy she had into writing a true but not so true letter. Maybe this was life. It had its ups and its downs and you were supposed to deal with them. Maybe acting okay was what everyone did. Maybe everyone was dealing with some or the other sorrow, and were hiding it just like Mellani.

Mellani shrugged and got up, for the first time noticing that there was food, and remembered why she had come to the Great Hall in the first place. She walked up to the table with food and quietly picked out some snacks, eating them slowly hoping that no one would come near her.

Open to interactions

WIS: 8 ACC: 9 STA: 5 EVA: 6 ARC: 6 STR: 7
Fearless

3 September, 2023

She giggled as she watched him lick his lips after he kissed her. It was his fault, really. He swooped in for a kiss right after she had taken a sip of her shake. She knew he detested the sweetness of the chocolate, but she also knew he delighted in delighting her. If delivering a sweet kiss to her meant he had to suffer through the flavored sweetness upon her own naturally sweet lips, well then, that was just the price he was willing to pay. What a guy!

He went and got his water and waited as others came back with their own libations. AngelFyre watched as Bailey headed off and grabbed a couple of milkshakes. Her heart rather sank as she saw her deliver one to Kim. She could not see Bailey's face, but she could see Kim's. Appreciation was not the emotion to be read there. If she did not know better, she would describe it as 3 parts mild contempt to 7 parts borderline apathy.

What was going on with him?

Concerned for Bailey, she kept herself from staring openly at her, but AngelFyre was glad to see her come back for Simon's toast. AngelFyre smiled upon him as he commanded everyone's attention and then spoke quite eloquently, referencing Mother Teresa. AngelFyre was always proud of Simon, but some moments stood out. This, for her, was one of them. When he had finished, he just blasted everyone with that high wattage smile of his and the clinking of glasses and well wishes reverberated throughout the Great Hall.

When chocolate milkshake followed toast, she casually glanced at him over the rim of her glass. Normally she would be slurping such a drink from a straw, but she had neglected to pick one up. No matter. It had led to the amusing kiss and gave her this tiny window of time to just be able to observe him. As her storm-tossed, ocean blue eyes took Simon in, he made a slow motion turn to meet her gaze while also sipping from his water glass.

She froze like that, oblivious to the laughter and camaraderie all around them, and even to the fact that she was no longer sipping from her glass, even though it was still being held up to her lips. They looked into each other's eyes everyday, multiple times a day, but there were times when more was being communicated. She knew in reality it was mere seconds when they connected in these brief interludes, but it felt as if time meant nothing. Had it stopped for them, as that is how they often tried to describe the feeling to one another, or had it folded upon itself and deposited them in a time and space unique in their Simon and AngelFyre universe?

And they did exist in their own universe in such moments.

She blinked first, warp speeding them back to the here and now. As she set her glass down on the table, adroitly licking her chocolate milkshake mustache from her upper lip, she reached for his hand. She did not say it aloud, but her look told him they needed to go. He squeezed her hand three times and then they both turned back to everyone, saying their goodbyes.

She made a point of hugging Bailey especially tightly and softly whispered to her that she was there for her anytime, if she needed an ear. Then she turned to Woofy and hugged him, too, expressing her joy over his joy. As she pulled back and looked into those amazing, pond-scum green eyes of his, she smiled an uncharacteristically sad smile.

"The outcropping, Colin. And soon."

As Simon finished his goodbyes, they both reached their hands out for the other's and started their trek to the exit. "May we take a detour from our planned Prefect patrol route, love? Said detour will require you, me, and your broom."

Simon did not stop his forward momentum, but he did slow it down as he cast a curious glance at her. "I have a letter to deliver."

------- ----------- -------

AngelFyre has left the thread.

The story continues here.

@Colin McCoire @Bailey Glade @Kim Sato

─

The summer had been most interesting, because Hades had been able to take advantage of what was a journey of exploration and know what he needed. In his previous year, everything had become quite intense and passed things that he could not even assimilate. But somehow, he was happy about it. He had established some new friendships, he had known love... Now with the new year to come, the boy had one goal in mind and was to be one of the best students. After arriving at Hogwarts, he had been personally invited by his boyfriend Damion to attend the welcome party. It wasn’t hard to accept because he liked

being with Damion. They had spent much of the summer together, where they had plenty of time to take advantage of. They had gone to many places, discovered new shops and bought quite a few things. After the summer, Hades' physique had changed.

And his style. His skin had become more tanned, small muscles had formed because he had started training for his future, a goal he had in mind. Hades had shared his biggest dream with Damion, and was to become a racing driver.

You could say that he had matured since he had spent time with Damion and had spent a little more time with his mother, despite how chaotic they were. Once he arrived, he watched with a smile Damion, who had been easy to spot him. He came up and outlined a smile, being very noticeable the height difference, now that Hades was 10 centimeters taller than Damion “Hello handsome.” he waved as he kissed both cheeks. He observed around him, noting how the party was decorated “You were too nostalgic and decided to organize a party?” he asked intrigued. Hades had attended several parties and this was certainly the quietest.

His eyes were watching the crowd, seeing what classmates had changed over the summer, even though he could see in Damion that his hair had been longer “What do you think? Everyone has changed a little in summer, perhaps half of them look tanned.” he muttered absently. He was being attentive. A whole summer that had meant big changes, physical and personality “I think I will miss the little freedom we had to go to the shops and enjoy the food...” he said without finishing the sentence, his gaze being lost at some point not specific. Until something seemed to get his attention. Stopping being distracted.

Before Hades forgot, he leaned down to give him a soft, sweet kiss on the lips, “I’ve missed you, by the way. And congratulations. How do you feel about being a prefect?” he asked, feeling proud that Damion was prefect. Hades had something in mind that he wanted to ask his boyfriend “I have to ask. How does it feel to know that you are now a person with responsibilities?” he asked again, curious. Now that he asked, he started thinking about what it would be like to be a responsible person and to have to be a kind of role model for the other students... He wondered if he could be that kind of person. Maybe he should stop thinking.

Hades was here and in Damion’s company, so he had to think about enjoying this. As soon as he realized he was looking for food with his eyes, he had something in mind “Have you brought macarons?” he asked with a smile. If anyone knew Hades well, they would know very well that he had a soft spot for macarons. And he was hoping there would be. Otherwise he would most likely go looking for different cookies to taste his insatiable hunger. He hadn’t eaten in hours, so he was hungry.

He realized he had to write a letter to someone. Before he started eating, he hurried to grab a piece of parchment and start scribbling, thinking about who it was going to be for. Maybe his friend Kim?

Dora looks around the hall from her seat until she spots him. Damion White. It looks like he's talking to another older boy that looks slightly familiar. She thinks he's a Hufflepuff, too. They look very close, which is confirmed when Dora sees them kiss. She blushes and looks away, awkwardly trying to avoid being nosy. She wants to be able to thank Damion, but she might be an unwelcome interruption. Pondering what to do, she looks down at the extra paper. Her letter is already written, but there's a page left. Deciding it's easier to write him and express her sentiments more eloquently, she dips her quill in the inkwell.

Reducio

Damion,

Hello. Thank you for inviting me to your Welcome party. I hope your summer was nice. I wanted to thank you properly for the time you helped fix my dress last year before the Fall Ball. It was very kind of you to do, and I'll forever be appreciative of it. I apologize for not saying this to you directly, but I don't want to take too much of your time. Congratulations on making prefect, I'm sure you'll do a splendid job.

Sincerely,

Isadora Ramona Everridge

It's not quite right, as Dora can't find the exact words to express how much that gesture meant to her. How alone she felt, and how much better he made her feel. She can see him being a prefect who looks out for any student having a hard time. As she sees him return to his partner with drinks, she settles for what she has and folds up the letter.

Walking silently over to the two boys, she opts to place the letter down near Damion without interrupting and leave. She tries not to be noticed, hoping to slip out of the Great Hall quickly and head back to her dorm. Damion would see it eventually and read it, and that's what matters.

All in all Colin had a good time at Damion's welcome back party. He certainly had a lot be thankful for and so many things to be happy about! After all! He had Clair. She --- they together --- were a whole universe to explore! And he had Liam back, and he felt newly born again! And Ciarán, where ever she was hanging out now, and now Lily. Colin really began to feel the sense of duty towards them. He'd promised himself that he wouldn't step into their affairs --- although he knew himself well enough, he'd probably trample all over them! But he would certainly look out for his sisters! And of course he'd seen several old friends and he knew the others were back waiting for him to rediscover and reconnect with!

Two things only worried his heart today.

Fyre Angel.

She said something about needing to meet at the stone outcropping. For Colin, that was a place of meditation, of deep grieving and of profound joy. He went there to cry. He went there to shout Clair's name! He went there to think. AngelFyre had been there with him several times. And now she was asking him to go there and be with her. Colin would make sure this happened sooner rather than later.

He wasn't quite sure what moved his heart just then, but some small voice within him said: you need to go to the stone outcropping with Clair. She hadn't said anything specific. She still looked the same --- well, more beautiful in his eyes! And she still smelled of apples and books and clean outside air. He would have to ponder this as well, and he would have to bring her to the stone outcropping. Soon. Very soon.

There was another thing as well that worried Colin. It was a wound.

An old wound.

A wound that never should have been.

Kim.

Kim Aoki. One of Colin's oldest friends at Hogwarts. He was an enigma in Colin's mind. They had shared many very close times together and had loads of adventures. Kim knew about Colin's condition; Colin knew about Kim's name change. They had both participated in one of the greatest works of wondrous magic Hogwarts had ever seen in the spring of their first year!

Yet Colin knew that a rift had grown between them. It had been almost a year now since they were really together. Since the ball. They'd lost Sophia. They'd never talked about her since. Even Colin rarely mentioned her to his other friends. Deep in his heart, he knew that he and Kim must reconnect. He could see the tears in Bailey's eyes, the sadness that she must feel. He knew she liked Kim, and they'd all been friends. But she seemed to be really affected by Kim's growing darkness.

Colin made a promise that he'd nab Kim. Drag him somewhere if he had to.

A sudden commotion jerked Colin out of his thoughts. "Don't you Maverick me!" Colin's brows knit together. Maverick. Wasn't that the friend Lily had introduced him to? He honestly hadn't paid much attention. He was happy that Lily had friends of course. But this one was arguing with Lils about --- his name? First given name? What was that all about? And then he said something about his answer being yes before storming out of the hall like a four year old.

Colin blinked. What a wank!

"Lily, he's such a prat! Who is he anyway?" Colin rolled his eyes. Liam shook his head and tisked softly. Colin stood up then and took Clair by the hand. "Me and Liam have some things to talk about---"

"We do?"

THUMP! Colin kicked Liam's shin.

"Yes! We do! Er. Clair! It was great seeing you here! Can --- can we talk some time? Soon? I think we have some things to talk about too..." He took Clair into as big a bear hug as she'd given him earlier. It felt so nice to be able to do this with her! Colin twirled her around and laughed. "See you later mo chridh!"

And with a twinkle in his green eyes, he turned, tousselled Lily's hair playfully and left with Liam in tow.

Colin and Liam leave the thread.

@Clair Fernandez | @Lily Isobel McCoire | Kim Sato