21 Nov 2023, 12:45
It's Written In The Stars
Clementine found herself stiffling a yawn, resisting the urge to open her mouth by clamping a hand on her face. Being so high up in the Astronomy Tower, the nightly winds managed to whip through the walls, seeping through the stones right into her bones.
Though she was comfortably sprawled on a yellow beanbag chair, tightly wrapped in her robes, her fingers were already growing itchy from the cold. Slightly numb, yet tingling. She'd read about it in a curious book about common muggle illnesses and treatment. It fascinated her to think that above ninety percent of the world's population did not have access to magic healers. In fact, it gave her a new found appreciation for the gifted people who dedicated their time and effort to physically and mentally mend the hurting.
Professor Baird's class was not one that caused her mind to wander. Learning about the world of the heavens was simply too interesting to pass. Tonight however, Clementine felt as though she'd caught a cold fever, if such a thing existed. Her eyes longed to sleep, but her body felt restless. Ice creeping through her veins urged her to move. If I sit here any longer, I just might freeze!
Just then, the first-year remembered the mention of a box holding extra blankets near the books. Carefully pulling herself off the beanbag, she shuffled towards the back. The walls here were enchanted to be transparent, revealing a serene view of the Hogwarts grounds and the courtyard below. In the cover of nightfall, the trees in the distance appeared to be waving at the Slytherin. Clementine immediately raised her hand to wave back before being reminded that she was still in class. Lowering her hand slightly, she gave a tiny wave and smiled to herself.
Once again, a chill nipped at her nose and fingertips. Chastising herself for getting distracted, the short-haired girl moved towards the bookshelves on the other side of the room. Ah- here they are. Hm! Nice and warm.
After plopping back down on her beanbag, she began to cozy herself with her blanket of choice. It was a navy blue-colored wool quilt; several constellations embroidered with silver and gold thread were sprinkled on its squares. As she patted down the fabric, it surprised her to find that a red-headed girl was looking her way. Glancing this way and that, Clementine quickly recovered and turned to face the glassy wall behind her. With a gentle huff, a spot of glass fogged up and using her pinky finger, she drew a smiley face.
Clementine gave the girl a little side-eye, hoping she'd seen her silent message: Hi there! Watcha lookin' at?
mentions: @Astra Norrick // word count: 445
"The whole universe interests me."
23 Nov 2023, 00:28
It's Written In The Stars
IC Date: Nov 24, 2023
Time: 22:45 // 10:45 p.m. -ish
Interacting with the wonderful Tangerine/@Clementine PierceAstra speaking: #136323
Thoughts: Italics
Others speaking: #theirhexAstra sat sideways in her beanbag, sweater snuggled tightly around her. She was mildly irritated that she had not gotten as close to the observation deck as she had wanted, but her vantage point was still great for admiring the night sky. Jupiter was in a great position, the shining gas giant captivating Astra's attention, although the topic being discussed was the rocky planets.
The moon was very nice as well, but Jupiter was more important here. You see the moon every day. Jupiter, not always! Even when you can see it, sometimes only with binoculars, and Astra didn't have that lovely item yet. So her eyes were glued to Jupiter, only half paying attention to Professor Baird. He was an interesting teacher and all, she just knew half the stuff already so mind wandering was permissible.
She could see Betelgeuse and Polaris, winking in their respective constellations Orion and Ursa Minor. Oh, and there was Ursa Major.
Astra could not explain why her ears focused on the smallest of sounds at the most random times, they simply did. It was at this moment she picked up the noise of someone getting up and walking about. Astra tried to ignore the noise, focus on what the professor was saying, but the rustling noises continued.
Curiosity, that dratted trait of hers, caused the redhead to look back and see a girl with short blonde hair nesting herself in a pile of blankets. Wow. Mount Blanket. She looked very cozy, though.
The corner of Astra's mouth quirked upward in a grin, a small, very, very quiet chuckle escaping her. She took the pen out of her pocket (she always carried one, ever since losing her quill in the owlery and being without one for a week) and scribbled a smiley onto her hand. She showed this to the girl with a slight smile.
26 Nov 2023, 03:06
It's Written In The Stars
The red-headed girl returned the gesture, retrieving a pen from her pocket to draw something on her palm. Seeing the smiley face brought a smile of her own onto Clem's face. With the weight of the blankets on top of her body, the Slytherin was having quite the time trying to stand up. The noise of the rustling blankets were muted, fortunately. Waiting for a moment when the Professor was looking elsewhere, she pulled her covers off and heaved her beanbag next to the other first-year.
If she showed any signs of embarrassment from being approached by a random girl who just couldn't sit still, Clem paid no attention to it. Instead, she flopped back into her beanbag and tossed the blanket across the both of their forms. "There. Nice and warm!" she whispered, briefly meeting the girl's eyes with a mischevious grin. "How fast do you think the earth is spinning?"
Abrupt encounters were Clementine's specialty. From the way she carried herself, light-hearted and free, to the way she talked, casual and easy-going, the girl was a walking whirlwind of curiosity. At the moment, her chosen curiosity was the girl she'd seated herself next to. Now that she'd been able to get a closer look at the girl, she noticed that the first-year had dark eyes that carried a familiar glint. She knew that glint. It was the same one in her own eyes. This was someone who wasn't afraid of adventure.
interacting with: @Astra Norrick // word count: 243
ooc: sorry it took a while! my exams are starting tomorrow aaaAA-
"The whole universe interests me."
30 Nov 2023, 13:51
It's Written In The Stars
IC Date: Nov 24, 2023
Time: 22:45 // 10:45 p.m. -ish
Interacting with the wonderful Tangerine/@Clementine PierceAstra speaking: #136323
Thoughts: Italics
Others speaking: #theirhexAstra was ridiculously happy at this surprising turn of events. She hadn't met anyone quite like this, quite so similar to herself in this respect. Someone who couldn't sit still, whose mind couldn't help but wander, who acted on impulse. And the sparkle of someone purely adventrous in her eye. Yes, Astra couldn't help but predict this would be a most auspicious encounter, and for once found a reason to thank her spontaneity.
The blanket was indeed very cozy and warm. "Thanks," she whispered, smiling at the blonde. "I'd reckon 1,500 kilometers an hour. Certainly faster than we'd normally guess. What would you say?"
Astra noted the girl's accent was rural. Midlands, maybe? Yes, definitely Midlands. That's exactly what Nico sounded like and he was from Hereford. So, West Midlands then. It was a rather useless deduction skill, to be able to figure out accents, according to most of the people around Astra, but she enjoyed it. Like a little mystery to solve every time she met someone new.
The clock ticked further toward dismissal. As much as the first year loved Astronomy, she was honestly ready to get out. Astra turned her eyes upon the girl beside her. You forgot introductions again. "I'm Astra, by the way," she whispered.OOC: All good, hope your exams went well! Sorry for the late response, my finals are coming up soon T^T
11 Dec 2023, 04:51
It's Written In The Stars
The fact that this girl whom she now shared a blanket with had given a genuine answer to her rather absurd and random question only seemed to widen Clem's grin. That and the lack of argument or annoyance at her spontaneous behavior.
"That's like- 20 times faster than I can throw an enchanted snowball, even if it were aimed at horrid Mr. Petski!" the girl marveled, swinging her arm in its socket as if she were pitching a ball. Realizing that the other girl probably needed an explanation, the first year added, "He always hated children. Didn't help that I happened to be hiding in his rubbish bin that one time. I hadn't been trying to give him a fright... it just seemed like a perfect hiding spot."
Clementine's voice had steadily increased in volume and speed, gushing out of her in a torrent of words. That warranted some glares from other students seated nearby. The slytherin did not cower under her heavy sheets, but she did quiet down a little.
"Oh right! I'm Clem. Short for Clementine. Yep. Astra, huh? What a fitting place to meet!"
The girl wiggled her toes, sticking one foot to pull up her sock before freezing up. When she turned to face her new friend, her face resembled one of a bright-eyed weasel, all perked up with an idea. Ohh man... it's perfect.
"I can call you astranaut!"
interacting with the lovely @Astra Norrick! // word count: 234
ooc: thank you for your patience! I should be getting my grades back soon, praying they're alright :> all the best for your finals!
"The whole universe interests me."
25 Dec 2023, 04:58
It's Written In The Stars
IC Date: Nov 24, 2023
Time: 22:45 // 10:45 p.m. -ish
Interacting with the wonderful Tangerine/@Clementine PierceAstra speaking: #136323
Thoughts: Italics
Others speaking: #theirhexMr. Petski sounded an awful lot like that horrid Mrs. Compton back in year three. The woman was the bane of Astra's existence that year, rude and displeased all the time for no reason. "He doesn't sound like a very good grown-up," Astra commented. "Do you know any good ones?" It would be a shame if the girl didn't know any good grown-ups, like Aunt Aces or Kayla. Technically Elliot, Jesse, and Maria too. It was weird that they were adults. They certainly didn't act like it.
Clementine, a nice name. Isn't that a type of orange? "It is a very fitting place to meet, isn't it?" Astra's gaze shifted away from her newfound friend (if she could be so bold) and lingered on the stars in the cold, clear sky.
Back to Clem. Yes, I think that is a type of orange. A citrus at the very least. The blonde snake revealed Astra's new nickname, a punny and perfect one, if Astra did say so herself, one that she laughed at, covering her mouth and trying to hide it from Professor Baird. "Then I'll call you Tangerine," Astra whispered once she was able. Nicknames were fun. She wondered why she and Renelle didn't have any.
Class was nearly up. "Let's walk together when class is over," Astra suggested, adjusting the blankets. "I could show you my cat if you'd like. He loves meeting new people. Or, if you're into Astronomy, I can show you my notebook." Astra was practically ecstatic to find this kindred spirit, a fellow adventurer, cut from the same cloth. Her new friend, Tangerine.
1 Jan 2024, 14:23
It's Written In The Stars
Watching her new friend's splendid reaction to the nickname she had just revealed only seemed to ignite a greater fire in their spark of a friendship. Astra's strangled laughter quickly infected Clementine with a fit of giggles and forced her to hunch over
and muffle the noise with a blanket.
"Tangerine?" she whispered back, corners of her mouth still turned up in a smile. "Do you take me for an orange?"
Already her mind had scrambled for a new joke, blurting it out before the moment of lighthearted laughter passed. "That hurts my peelings!" the first year gasped, pressing a hand to her lips in a dramatic flair of pretend horror. In an instant, her demeanor changed, however, shoulders slacking back as she sighed and resumed her casual smile. "Kidding, of course. I love it. Tangerine and Astranaut!"
The ever-increasing amount of puns and carefree banter was proof of the two of students on the right track. For now, they would have to take it outside the classroom. Chair legs scraped on the floor as students eagerly hopped out of their seats and chatter mounted up to a loud din. Professor Baird must've dismissed the class.. Clem realized, turning to Astra who also had something in mind.
"Let's walk together when class is over, I could show you my cat if you'd like. He loves meeting new people. Or, if you're into Astronomy, I can show you my notebook."
The blonde haired girl threw the blankets off, jumping up in a burst of energy. "You have a cat?! Ohmyowls! You can show me your notebook some other time- What. Is your cat's name. I must pet." she demanded, not unkindly. Her hands had automatically reached out and grasped both of the second Slytherin's own.
chilling out with the amazing ◇ astranaut (@Astra Norrick!) ◇ // word count: 294
ooc: merry christmas and happy new year!!
"The whole universe interests me."
2 Mar 2024, 00:56
It's Written In The Stars
IC Date: Nov 24, 2023
Time: 22:45 // 10:45 p.m. -ish
Interacting with the wonderful Tangerine/@Clementine PierceAstra speaking: #136323
Thoughts: Italics
Others speaking: #theirhexAstra couldn't help but laugh, trying to muffle her chuckle with one hand. "I'm sure we'll be stellar friends!" the redhead remarked to her fellow snake, mouth quirked into a half smile. Tonight was a good night, a lucky night.
Astra should've known her new found companion would be keenly interested in meeting Hermes, and was quick to say, "I'm sure he'll be delighted to make a new friend. He's quite the extravert, and a little bit of a trickster." That was an understatement, but that was quite alright.
Astra was a bit surprised when Clementine grabbed her hands. She blinked her midnight blue eyes a few times before her grip tightened to reciprocate the other's enthusiasm. "His name is Hermes. And I must warn you, he does live up to his name. Hopefully by now he's sleepy though, we played a lot between dinner and this class."
Clem exuded an energy that Astra figured she matched fairly well, else they wouldn't have clicked so quickly. The blonde Slytherin had an eye for adventure and perhaps a little mischief. She seemed a good sort. Astra, even after just these few short minutes, felt a familiar pull between them, a pull to a kindred spirit perhaps?note: sorry for the delay! Would you like to continue to the dorms?