30 Jan 2019, 03:09
Mischief Poorly Managed
The night was bitingly cold, causing even the owls with the thickest coats to shiver a little in their perches. Eleanor watched the moonlit sky with an absent minded stare, the owl she had sent to her grandparents in Whepstead having long since disappeared into the darkness. She wondered what sort of passive aggressive note she would receive back from them when they learned she had failed in her first task. Her grandmother's brisk and unforgiving tone of voice drifted through her mind.
"Burkharts are Ravenclaws, Eleanor. You're a smart girl. I'm sure you won't disappoint us."
Her eye twitched at the thought. Burkharts are not disappointments. Burkharts are intelligent, valuable, well respected members of society. Burkharts don't break curfew to hang out with a bunch of godforsaken birds in a freezing tower. She kicked at the stone flooring beneath her feet out of frustration. She had promised them she would be better than him, promised herself that she would be better than him.
Eleanor sighed in defeat before slumping down to the steps below her, sitting on a recently Scourgify-ed step. It was clear that going back to the common room wasn't an option, lest she be seen as overly emotional and weak. She hadn't been a Slytherin for long, but she knew already that the words Slytherin and weak don't go together. She settled upon throwing little chips of stone at the wall in an attempt to relieve some stress and distract herself from what a colossal screw up she was becoming.
"Burkharts are Ravenclaws, Eleanor. You're a smart girl. I'm sure you won't disappoint us."
Her eye twitched at the thought. Burkharts are not disappointments. Burkharts are intelligent, valuable, well respected members of society. Burkharts don't break curfew to hang out with a bunch of godforsaken birds in a freezing tower. She kicked at the stone flooring beneath her feet out of frustration. She had promised them she would be better than him, promised herself that she would be better than him.
Eleanor sighed in defeat before slumping down to the steps below her, sitting on a recently Scourgify-ed step. It was clear that going back to the common room wasn't an option, lest she be seen as overly emotional and weak. She hadn't been a Slytherin for long, but she knew already that the words Slytherin and weak don't go together. She settled upon throwing little chips of stone at the wall in an attempt to relieve some stress and distract herself from what a colossal screw up she was becoming.
"life should be about more than just surviving"
strength: 4 | agility: 7 | control: 12 | stamina: 7
30 Jan 2019, 03:47
Mischief Poorly Managed
"You're going to be a Ravenclaw Lallie, just like the rest of us"
"Don't worry sweetie we all know the Sorting Hat will chose Ravenclaw"
"My little girl, our youngest raven."
Lallie woke up with a start on the beach of the Great Lakes. Gasping for air she tried to evaluate her surroundings. She remembered skipping rocks in the lake during her free period and dozing off to sleep afterwards from stress. She looked up at the sky and saw the bright moon shining right in the middle of the sky. Great, she thought rubbing the temple of her nose, I'm out past curfew.. She stood up and brushed herself off, there was no way she could get back into the common room this late with her little knowledge of the castle. She sighed and trudged to the only place she knew where she could safely go.
She shivered as she trudged up to the West Tower. If she was what her parents wanted her to be she would be going here to get to the Ravenclaw common room, but alas she was not.
She pushed open the heavy Owlery door, and made sure it quietly closed so that no one would be alerted of the noise. She looked around at all the cooing of the owls as their intelligent eyes stared at her. She sighed and started walking up the steps, looking at her feet, trying to block out the world around her.
"Don't worry sweetie we all know the Sorting Hat will chose Ravenclaw"
"My little girl, our youngest raven."
Lallie woke up with a start on the beach of the Great Lakes. Gasping for air she tried to evaluate her surroundings. She remembered skipping rocks in the lake during her free period and dozing off to sleep afterwards from stress. She looked up at the sky and saw the bright moon shining right in the middle of the sky. Great, she thought rubbing the temple of her nose, I'm out past curfew.. She stood up and brushed herself off, there was no way she could get back into the common room this late with her little knowledge of the castle. She sighed and trudged to the only place she knew where she could safely go.
She shivered as she trudged up to the West Tower. If she was what her parents wanted her to be she would be going here to get to the Ravenclaw common room, but alas she was not.
She pushed open the heavy Owlery door, and made sure it quietly closed so that no one would be alerted of the noise. She looked around at all the cooing of the owls as their intelligent eyes stared at her. She sighed and started walking up the steps, looking at her feet, trying to block out the world around her.
"You cannot now believe that you will ever feel better. But this is not true. You are sure to be happy again. Knowing this, truly believing it will make you less miserable now."
- Abraham Lincoln
30 Jan 2019, 04:18
Mischief Poorly Managed
Eleanor was too consumed with her self appointed task of whipping stones at the wall with steadily increasing intensity to hear the sound of light foot steps below her. "Stupid..." she muttered, not entirely sure who the focus of her anger was. Was she mad at her mother? Her father? Or herself?
"Who says it can't be all three?" she laughed bitterly to herself before feeling a pang of guilt. Her mother wasn't to blame for what happened. If she had just stayed in America, if her father hadn't decided to travel abroad and bring back a wife as a souvenir, maybe she never would have never been exposed to whatever had done this to her. Maybe she would have been able to have a normal muggle life with a normal muggle husband and a normal muggle daughter. But no. Her mother had a weak disappointment of a husband and a daughter who was slipping right into his shoes.
At that thought, Eleanor let out a frustrated yell as she threw a stone as hard as she could in the direction of the stairs below. Instead of hearing the satisfying sound of stone on stone that she had expected, she heard nothing. Absolutely nothing. Puzzled, she ran down the stairs to see what had happened, praying she hadn't hit an owl or something.
"Who says it can't be all three?" she laughed bitterly to herself before feeling a pang of guilt. Her mother wasn't to blame for what happened. If she had just stayed in America, if her father hadn't decided to travel abroad and bring back a wife as a souvenir, maybe she never would have never been exposed to whatever had done this to her. Maybe she would have been able to have a normal muggle life with a normal muggle husband and a normal muggle daughter. But no. Her mother had a weak disappointment of a husband and a daughter who was slipping right into his shoes.
At that thought, Eleanor let out a frustrated yell as she threw a stone as hard as she could in the direction of the stairs below. Instead of hearing the satisfying sound of stone on stone that she had expected, she heard nothing. Absolutely nothing. Puzzled, she ran down the stairs to see what had happened, praying she hadn't hit an owl or something.
"life should be about more than just surviving"
strength: 4 | agility: 7 | control: 12 | stamina: 7
30 Jan 2019, 04:45
Mischief Poorly Managed
Lallie was walking mindlessly up the stairs of the Owlery when she felt a hard smack on the back of her head. She rubbed the impact spot and muttered a few choice words under her breath. She then looked down to see a rock silently clanking down the staircase. Oh god please may no one be here! Lallie thought as she turned her to the rising staircase where she saw a girl around her age running towards her. Crap! she yelled internally about to make a break for it, Wait though, why would there be a first year down patrolling at this time of night? And there was no way anyone could here her from the Ravenclaw tower. she reminded herself as she turned her attention back to the girl. She gulped and awkwardly said, "Uh hey there. Didn't expect anyone else out in the Owlery at this time of night." She immediately felt heat rising to her cheeks. Lallie wasn't one to be breaking rules and she just said something so casual to someone who was probably out here for a similar reason as her, or for a reason that was worse than her's. She shivered at the thought
"You cannot now believe that you will ever feel better. But this is not true. You are sure to be happy again. Knowing this, truly believing it will make you less miserable now."
- Abraham Lincoln
30 Jan 2019, 05:45
Mischief Poorly Managed
Eleanor stopped short at the sight of the other girl rubbing the back of her head, unable to hide the horrified expression on her face as she realized what she had done. Every alarm in her head was going off all at once and she was frozen to spot as the girl turned back to look at her.
Way to go, Eleanor. Turns out your inner idiot is finally manifesting. Can't walk three feet in this school without screwing up.
"I didn't either. I am so, so sorry." she blurted out before snapping into caretaker mode. She moved towards the girl carefully so as not to spook her. "I was throwing rocks and I didn't think anybody was coming so I just...I'm sorry." she apologized again.
Once she was close enough, Eleanor reached out to gently check the spot where she assumed the rock had hit, not bothering to ask permission. In her mind, a potential injury negated any need for niceties. A way of thinking that had been cultivated back when she still lived with her parents in that little shoe box of an apartment they had in Muggle London. Back when she was used to taking care of her mother for hours while her father left them to go to work. She moved aside the bright red hair that was blocking her vision so that she could get a good look. "I don't think you're bleeding." she said quietly. "Though you're probably going to want to ice that since it's swelling a bit."
Way to go, Eleanor. Turns out your inner idiot is finally manifesting. Can't walk three feet in this school without screwing up.
"I didn't either. I am so, so sorry." she blurted out before snapping into caretaker mode. She moved towards the girl carefully so as not to spook her. "I was throwing rocks and I didn't think anybody was coming so I just...I'm sorry." she apologized again.
Once she was close enough, Eleanor reached out to gently check the spot where she assumed the rock had hit, not bothering to ask permission. In her mind, a potential injury negated any need for niceties. A way of thinking that had been cultivated back when she still lived with her parents in that little shoe box of an apartment they had in Muggle London. Back when she was used to taking care of her mother for hours while her father left them to go to work. She moved aside the bright red hair that was blocking her vision so that she could get a good look. "I don't think you're bleeding." she said quietly. "Though you're probably going to want to ice that since it's swelling a bit."
"life should be about more than just surviving"
strength: 4 | agility: 7 | control: 12 | stamina: 7
30 Jan 2019, 20:47
Mischief Poorly Managed
Lallie felt heat rising to her cheeks when the girl came up to her to check where she hit Lallie in the head. She didn't mind the girl was coming that close to her it's just that the entire situation up to this moment was honestly embarrassing.
"It's fine, I'm good." Lallie said patting her head, "I normally throw rocks to when I'm thinking about something, although it's normally in the water so stuff like this doesn't happen." Lallie winced at that attempt of a joke.
You always have to go and embarrass yourself Lallie she thought as her face was getting more red by the second.
"I-i'm Lallie by the way." she said extending her hand out to the girl attempting to break the awkward tension floating in the air. Lallie never knew why, but she always felt more comfortable around people when they were on a name to name basis. The girl seemed nice enough though. The way she was apologizing and checking Lallie's "impact mark" reminded her of her mother. Always nurturing her and her brother and always feeling bad when ever she was away at work for long periods of time. She wonders what her mom would say to her if she saw her with this random girl after curfew in the Owlery.
"It's fine, I'm good." Lallie said patting her head, "I normally throw rocks to when I'm thinking about something, although it's normally in the water so stuff like this doesn't happen." Lallie winced at that attempt of a joke.
You always have to go and embarrass yourself Lallie she thought as her face was getting more red by the second.
"I-i'm Lallie by the way." she said extending her hand out to the girl attempting to break the awkward tension floating in the air. Lallie never knew why, but she always felt more comfortable around people when they were on a name to name basis. The girl seemed nice enough though. The way she was apologizing and checking Lallie's "impact mark" reminded her of her mother. Always nurturing her and her brother and always feeling bad when ever she was away at work for long periods of time. She wonders what her mom would say to her if she saw her with this random girl after curfew in the Owlery.
"You cannot now believe that you will ever feel better. But this is not true. You are sure to be happy again. Knowing this, truly believing it will make you less miserable now."
- Abraham Lincoln
30 Jan 2019, 23:25
Mischief Poorly Managed
Eleanor took a step back at the girl's reassurances that she was okay and took a mental note of the blush coloring her cheeks. Maybe next time we ask before digging around someone else's scalp, she thought to herself. She stiffened slightly, regaining her composure as she took the girl's - Lallie's - hand and shook it awkwardly.
"Eleanor." she said, hiding her emotional distress from earlier under a cool, measured tone of voice. "And regardless, it was my mistake. I shouldn't have been so reckless." Her corner of her mouth quirked upward at the sight of the girl's rapidly reddening face. "Though it was worth it to see if a Gryffindor's face can get as red as their tie." she teased. Eleanor didn't really give a damn about what house the girl was in, but she couldn't help herself. "A long held Slytherin legend has been proven true tonight."
Her smirk softened a little bit. "So, what brings you up here in the middle of the night?" Eleanor had spent more than a few nights up in the owlery since she had arrived, writing and rewriting the note she had finally sent off. Not once had she seen another person, not even a prefect patrolling the area because of how cold and windy it could get.
"Eleanor." she said, hiding her emotional distress from earlier under a cool, measured tone of voice. "And regardless, it was my mistake. I shouldn't have been so reckless." Her corner of her mouth quirked upward at the sight of the girl's rapidly reddening face. "Though it was worth it to see if a Gryffindor's face can get as red as their tie." she teased. Eleanor didn't really give a damn about what house the girl was in, but she couldn't help herself. "A long held Slytherin legend has been proven true tonight."
Her smirk softened a little bit. "So, what brings you up here in the middle of the night?" Eleanor had spent more than a few nights up in the owlery since she had arrived, writing and rewriting the note she had finally sent off. Not once had she seen another person, not even a prefect patrolling the area because of how cold and windy it could get.
"life should be about more than just surviving"
strength: 4 | agility: 7 | control: 12 | stamina: 7
31 Jan 2019, 02:00
Mischief Poorly Managed
Lallie was a little surprised at first by Eleanor's comment on her blushing. "Oh um yea it's just that this whole situation is kinda awkward and embarrassing, don't you think?" Lallie said rubbing the back of her head.
"I guess I'm out here for the same reason as you. I got lost in thought and now it's past curfew. I came here because it's secluded and slightly warmer than the outside." she said bringing her cloak against her body.
Lallie looked around the Owlery for a moment, admiring the owls. "You know I always loved being in here. All the owls are so intelligent and beautiful in their own way." Lallie said as she continued to immerse herself in her surroundings. The way some were fluttering around, or the intelligent gaze of the idle ones piercing into her skull. Her favorite was the barn owls. The way their feather and face design was so elegant and yet so simple. The way they tilt there heads when they're curious. At a certain angle some of them could even seem to be made of clay. Some people say owls are creepy, but Lallie has always been fascinated by their elegance and intelligence.
"I guess I'm out here for the same reason as you. I got lost in thought and now it's past curfew. I came here because it's secluded and slightly warmer than the outside." she said bringing her cloak against her body.
Lallie looked around the Owlery for a moment, admiring the owls. "You know I always loved being in here. All the owls are so intelligent and beautiful in their own way." Lallie said as she continued to immerse herself in her surroundings. The way some were fluttering around, or the intelligent gaze of the idle ones piercing into her skull. Her favorite was the barn owls. The way their feather and face design was so elegant and yet so simple. The way they tilt there heads when they're curious. At a certain angle some of them could even seem to be made of clay. Some people say owls are creepy, but Lallie has always been fascinated by their elegance and intelligence.
"You cannot now believe that you will ever feel better. But this is not true. You are sure to be happy again. Knowing this, truly believing it will make you less miserable now."
- Abraham Lincoln
31 Jan 2019, 02:46
Mischief Poorly Managed
Eleanor followed Lallie's gaze as she looked around the Owlery. She had to admit, the owls housed here were gorgeous. Proud and majestic, as if they knew they were important and weren't afraid to show it. She returned her attention to the girl in front of her. "True." she said quietly, a thoughtful tone in her voice before she murmured. "I wish I could be more like them."
She didn't know why she said it, especially to a stranger. But it was the truth and she needed to say it out loud. She wished she had the freedom these birds had. No unrealistic expectations, nothing holding them back. Owls don't have baggage like humans do. "Like I do." she thought to herself.
Eleanor sighed, pulling herself out of her reverie and running a hand through her dark brown hair. "So, what's your plan? You know, now that you've gotten being beaned by a Slytherin off your list of things to do before you die." She couldn't help herself. If she couldn't guard herself with carefully placed glares and an air of apathy, she would do it through humor. Anything to keep her from looking vulnerable to the people around her. Because at the end of the day, everyone was a threat. Even this harmless looking girl standing with the moonlight in her red hair.
She didn't know why she said it, especially to a stranger. But it was the truth and she needed to say it out loud. She wished she had the freedom these birds had. No unrealistic expectations, nothing holding them back. Owls don't have baggage like humans do. "Like I do." she thought to herself.
Eleanor sighed, pulling herself out of her reverie and running a hand through her dark brown hair. "So, what's your plan? You know, now that you've gotten being beaned by a Slytherin off your list of things to do before you die." She couldn't help herself. If she couldn't guard herself with carefully placed glares and an air of apathy, she would do it through humor. Anything to keep her from looking vulnerable to the people around her. Because at the end of the day, everyone was a threat. Even this harmless looking girl standing with the moonlight in her red hair.
"life should be about more than just surviving"
strength: 4 | agility: 7 | control: 12 | stamina: 7
31 Jan 2019, 04:12
Mischief Poorly Managed
Lallie tilted her head and smiled. She didn't really expect to hear something so on the nose as to what she was thinking about right now from someone else's mouth. Birds have no worries and only care about the distant sky. Sometimes she wished that the human species was as lucky as birds.
"My plan is to give my parents a reason to ignore all the times I've disappointed them." Lallie said half-heartedly chuckling, "Everything I do no matter how hard I try is a mistake or overlooked because my brother has already did it. Oh sweetie you got an A on your test? Well Leo got and A+ average the entire year when he was your age and you only had an A-. Why don't you pursue a Herbology path like your brother and father did. And now I'm going to disappoint them by being a Gryffindor instead of a Ravenclaw." Lallie surprised herself at how vocal she was being to Eleanor. Maybe it was because she was a total stranger to Lallie. Maybe it was because she was stressed so much and she just couldn't take it any more, she didn't know.
"Sorry I just like spilled my life story out to you just then. I 'm just under a lot of stress right now." Lallie said trying to justify what she just said to both Eleanor and herself.
"My plan is to give my parents a reason to ignore all the times I've disappointed them." Lallie said half-heartedly chuckling, "Everything I do no matter how hard I try is a mistake or overlooked because my brother has already did it. Oh sweetie you got an A on your test? Well Leo got and A+ average the entire year when he was your age and you only had an A-. Why don't you pursue a Herbology path like your brother and father did. And now I'm going to disappoint them by being a Gryffindor instead of a Ravenclaw." Lallie surprised herself at how vocal she was being to Eleanor. Maybe it was because she was a total stranger to Lallie. Maybe it was because she was stressed so much and she just couldn't take it any more, she didn't know.
"Sorry I just like spilled my life story out to you just then. I 'm just under a lot of stress right now." Lallie said trying to justify what she just said to both Eleanor and herself.
"You cannot now believe that you will ever feel better. But this is not true. You are sure to be happy again. Knowing this, truly believing it will make you less miserable now."
- Abraham Lincoln