17 Mar 2019, 23:11
The muddled squall
It had only been a few months since Thomas had arrived at the confines of the dark castle. Thomas’ brief tenure had carried with it a handful of distressing interactions. The weight of his father’s absence was a sour point amongst fellow Slytherins’ that knew the story. Fortunately, speculation of his father’s role as a death eater was not a common talking point. However, the focus of his marriage to a muggle and tampering with his pure-blood line caused a stir with the aforementioned Slytherin students. The rage within Thomas has only increased his resentment for his father despite miniscule understanding for the reasoning behind it.
Accompanied by this perceived negative image he had from other students, Thomas carried vexation into many of his interactions. Even if they were friendly, he couldn’t help the looming thought they made judgements based upon his father’s decisions. As time has passed, he has started to believe his choices would make no difference to the wizard he would become at Hogwarts. Whether right or wrong, he was on a singular path to darkness. That is, until he was shown the light. From peers, professors, or even magical creatures. Subconsciously he desperately searched for a source of acceptance. Behind the façade of a young, angry boy, was this craving. To be accepted for who he was.
It was a late afternoon, heavy altostratus clouds covered the majority of the sky teasing the arrival of rain. The temperature no lower than sixty degrees. A forecast Thomas preferred, the chance of rain offered a sense of relief reminding him of the rainy days back in New Romney, England. Following his first flying lesson, the professor encouraged the students to travel south to get a better glimpse of the black lake if they have yet to see it. Thomas approached the direction of the lake with a few other students, keeping a considerable distance. The professor urged one final warning to return in the event of a heavy storm.
He briskly walked towards the lake, the bottom of his black robes fluttered in the wind. He wore his typical glowering expression, bluish eyes gaze straightforward with no intent to connect with others that traveled near him. Behind this dissociated demeanor was fear of another unpleasant encounter regarding his father. His brisk walk turned into a light jog, he desired to reach the shoreline and return to further his separation from any other parties. His mother warned him this aversion would only trouble him further, and possibly aid to the beginning of a depression. If it decreased the chance of additional agitating interactions, he would embrace being nothing more than a loner.
Thomas slowed up when he reached a bed of rocks that led to the flat shoreline, a few boulders spaced sporadically throughout. Thomas took a seat on one of the boulders, a gust of wind rolled in blowing his thin dark brownish bangs to the sides. He closed his eyes leisurely, reaching into his robe where he kept his wand and a beloved possession. A light steel necklace, denoting the memory of his mother and father. On the necklace was small circular case with a minimized blackish-green engraving of his family name in italic lettering Lestrange. He opened the case to reveal a photo of his parents. His mother insisted the photo have his father for reasons he was far too young to understand. Despite the accusations that have been thrown his way, she still believed he was a man of just principles. Perhaps it was her muggle nature that inhibited a true understanding of the man’s choices.
A few moments passed and the other students began to arrive near Thomas at the shore, some of them walked close to the water, others stood back from a distance. Another gust of wind brought in a small amount of moisture, offering a chilling sensation. A group of three boys and one girl came near Thomas’ backside, the boy at the forefront of the group spoke first. “If Salazar were still around, he’d put you on trial you know!” His husky tone indicated he was at least a year older than Thomas. Startled by the voice he turned his back to stand, slightly twisting his ankle in between a pair of rocks in the process, stumbling to the ground. One of the student’s chuckled while Thomas pulled himself up, taking several steps towards the leading Slytherin boy until they were toe to toe.
The boy was taller than he by a few inches, stronger build, and likely a better caster. His options were limited if the encounter was to turn violent. “Say that again, I couldn’t hear you.” His tone was soft but threatening. Thomas felt his hands tighten, making a fist. His face took on a reddish tone as his blood began to boil. “He’s not worth the trouble, the half-blood.” Another boy spoke behind the leader, giving him a nod of warning. The lead boy smirked, lips curving up into a conceited smile. “See you around, Tommy.” Thomas shook his head knowing any physical reaction would not only get him into trouble with school officials, he likely had no chance to defeat the boy given the fact his little posse would intervene. A light drizzle began to drop from the light-gray tinted clouds in the sky. The group turned back in the direction of the castle. Thomas allowed several moments to pass to give them a distance, and to collect himself.
No more than thirty steps passed before Thomas clutched into his robe compartment to feel only his wand. The necklace was missing. His face took on a pale color while his mind raced. Had the group of students taken it? No, I would’ve noticed. Perhaps it dropped from my fall. Thomas turned back and began to sprint towards the site of his interaction with the boys. The rocks rattled from the hasty steps that led Thomas back near the shoreline. The drizzle developed into a steady rainfall, water seeped in between the rocks near the boulder he sat on previously. He began to dig his hands threw the moist rocks, tossing them to the side, desperately searching for the steel necklace. His tears blended with the raindrops that stream downed his cheeks.
Accompanied by this perceived negative image he had from other students, Thomas carried vexation into many of his interactions. Even if they were friendly, he couldn’t help the looming thought they made judgements based upon his father’s decisions. As time has passed, he has started to believe his choices would make no difference to the wizard he would become at Hogwarts. Whether right or wrong, he was on a singular path to darkness. That is, until he was shown the light. From peers, professors, or even magical creatures. Subconsciously he desperately searched for a source of acceptance. Behind the façade of a young, angry boy, was this craving. To be accepted for who he was.
It was a late afternoon, heavy altostratus clouds covered the majority of the sky teasing the arrival of rain. The temperature no lower than sixty degrees. A forecast Thomas preferred, the chance of rain offered a sense of relief reminding him of the rainy days back in New Romney, England. Following his first flying lesson, the professor encouraged the students to travel south to get a better glimpse of the black lake if they have yet to see it. Thomas approached the direction of the lake with a few other students, keeping a considerable distance. The professor urged one final warning to return in the event of a heavy storm.
He briskly walked towards the lake, the bottom of his black robes fluttered in the wind. He wore his typical glowering expression, bluish eyes gaze straightforward with no intent to connect with others that traveled near him. Behind this dissociated demeanor was fear of another unpleasant encounter regarding his father. His brisk walk turned into a light jog, he desired to reach the shoreline and return to further his separation from any other parties. His mother warned him this aversion would only trouble him further, and possibly aid to the beginning of a depression. If it decreased the chance of additional agitating interactions, he would embrace being nothing more than a loner.
Thomas slowed up when he reached a bed of rocks that led to the flat shoreline, a few boulders spaced sporadically throughout. Thomas took a seat on one of the boulders, a gust of wind rolled in blowing his thin dark brownish bangs to the sides. He closed his eyes leisurely, reaching into his robe where he kept his wand and a beloved possession. A light steel necklace, denoting the memory of his mother and father. On the necklace was small circular case with a minimized blackish-green engraving of his family name in italic lettering Lestrange. He opened the case to reveal a photo of his parents. His mother insisted the photo have his father for reasons he was far too young to understand. Despite the accusations that have been thrown his way, she still believed he was a man of just principles. Perhaps it was her muggle nature that inhibited a true understanding of the man’s choices.
A few moments passed and the other students began to arrive near Thomas at the shore, some of them walked close to the water, others stood back from a distance. Another gust of wind brought in a small amount of moisture, offering a chilling sensation. A group of three boys and one girl came near Thomas’ backside, the boy at the forefront of the group spoke first. “If Salazar were still around, he’d put you on trial you know!” His husky tone indicated he was at least a year older than Thomas. Startled by the voice he turned his back to stand, slightly twisting his ankle in between a pair of rocks in the process, stumbling to the ground. One of the student’s chuckled while Thomas pulled himself up, taking several steps towards the leading Slytherin boy until they were toe to toe.
The boy was taller than he by a few inches, stronger build, and likely a better caster. His options were limited if the encounter was to turn violent. “Say that again, I couldn’t hear you.” His tone was soft but threatening. Thomas felt his hands tighten, making a fist. His face took on a reddish tone as his blood began to boil. “He’s not worth the trouble, the half-blood.” Another boy spoke behind the leader, giving him a nod of warning. The lead boy smirked, lips curving up into a conceited smile. “See you around, Tommy.” Thomas shook his head knowing any physical reaction would not only get him into trouble with school officials, he likely had no chance to defeat the boy given the fact his little posse would intervene. A light drizzle began to drop from the light-gray tinted clouds in the sky. The group turned back in the direction of the castle. Thomas allowed several moments to pass to give them a distance, and to collect himself.
No more than thirty steps passed before Thomas clutched into his robe compartment to feel only his wand. The necklace was missing. His face took on a pale color while his mind raced. Had the group of students taken it? No, I would’ve noticed. Perhaps it dropped from my fall. Thomas turned back and began to sprint towards the site of his interaction with the boys. The rocks rattled from the hasty steps that led Thomas back near the shoreline. The drizzle developed into a steady rainfall, water seeped in between the rocks near the boulder he sat on previously. He began to dig his hands threw the moist rocks, tossing them to the side, desperately searching for the steel necklace. His tears blended with the raindrops that stream downed his cheeks.
Last edited by Thomas Lestrange on 14 Jan 2020, 17:16, edited 2 times in total.
We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be
Stamina: 8 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 7 | Wisdom: 8 | ArcPower: 3 | Accuracy: 7
Ability - Evasive Maneuvers 2x
18 Mar 2019, 02:25
The muddled squall
Ruby sighed. She felt as if her life was getting a little bit too predictable and boring. Yes, she was reading and drawing, both things that she loved. Yes, she was learning and gathering new information – things she also liked. She had been planning to make changes to the world with a Gryffindor, but she didn't really know how far she'd get with that. She wanted something to make her life a little more interesting. A new project, perhaps? She could also look for a new friend – she probably needed more of those, anyway. If she was going to do that, though, then she wanted someone interesting – someone who was different, and at least decently intelligent.
In her head, she began running through the people she had come across that were around her age. Her mind drifted back to conversations she had overheard, people she had seen a couple of times, those she had classes with… who would work? Of course, she needed to find a way to befriend them as well – even if they did fit what she was looking for, she needed them to at least like her. Rolling her eyes, she kept walking through the Corridors. This whole process was tiring enough…
She eventually walked out onto the Grounds. Inhaling deeply, she looked around her. She loved being outside and being surrounded by nature in many forms, and the Grounds also provided her with a place to think, inspiration for drawings, and people to meet. She stood there for a moment, just taking in all the smells, sights, and sounds. Before long, she was walking again, headed for the Great Lake. She wanted to be by the water and be able to simply look at the lake and hear the gentle lapping of the water against the land. She needed some time to think and be at peace, even if it looked like it was going to rain soon. That wouldn't deter her… yet.
When the young Slytherin reached the lake, she glanced around her. There were some others nearby, but she decided that she'd wait for a while before attempting to approach many of them. She sat down, bringing her legs up closer to her chest and staring out at the large body of water in front of her. The lake's beauty only stayed in her thoughts for a brief moment before they moved on.
What was her purpose in the world? She hadn't come close at all to figuring it out so far – after all, she was still a first year and "didn't need to worry about it yet". However, she wasn't even sure whether she was going to end up walking the path of the bad or the good – the dark or the light. She finally came to terms with the fact that she wasn't entirely opposed to either, and it shocked her a little bit. How was she supposed to know this yet, and why did she feel this way? Would she continue to walk this path that was somewhere in between – the gray area? She wasn't sure if that appealed to her. It was a strange feeling, to be aware that she could quite easily join either side. At this point, she didn't know what she believed in. She wasn't sure what she considered to be wrong or right. She had a feeling that things were a lot less simple than people made them out to be, and she knew that she didn't just see the world in black and white the way that many people did – one side or the other side, firm sets of opposites, no in between.
All of this was rather confusing, and Ruby knew that many older people – students in years higher than her own, adults, whatever – would tell her that she was young and shouldn't be thinking about these things, that she didn't need to allow them to plague her thoughts. Some people would go as far as to try to force their beliefs and thoughts onto her. Like my parents, she thought suddenly. No, she wouldn't think about them right now. She wouldn't bring them up and debate why they acted the way they did. She wouldn't get angry because of them.
She brought her thoughts back to the subject she had been considering. She knew at least one thing for certain – she wouldn't leave this world without making a mark on it. Some would think it silly, but she knew deep down that she was destined for something great, something bigger. As much as many children dreamed of it, and despite all the Slytherins that had probably shared similar thoughts, Ruby knew that she was different. She had to be. Gazing out at the lake, she knew how ridiculous it would sound if she voiced this to anyone. She knew that they wouldn't understand or take her seriously. Why did so many older people think they knew better – why did they think that just because she was young, that meant these things couldn't be real?
Sighing again, she tried to let all of these feelings and thoughts out. She didn't need them. Not now. The girl simply sat there, feeling a little defeated. The child was still full of emotions that churned deep inside her – anger, passion, doubt, fright, determination – but she tried to mask them, squashing them and shoving them away into some corner to be let out later. There was a sense of loneliness and hopelessness that plagued her recently, particularly today. She knew she'd be able to get rid of it at some point – she even reckoned that she knew how to do it – but for once she was content to just leave it and take a moment to be human. Part of truly being alive was the negative feelings that would undoubtedly occur. After all, how can you know true happiness if you've never felt truly sad? She didn't feel much of anything right now, at least not on the surface. It was buried deep within her, and she knew what she was capable of feeling, if only she had the courage to let it all out. Truly, she was scared. Scared of what might happen if she did.
Pushing these thoughts away again, she realized that something was happening near her. Some drama? A fight? She couldn't exactly hear what was happening, nor could she see who was the victim of this, but judging by the other kids' faces, they weren't saying anything kind. She got up and was about to try and interfere when the group of students started walking away and it began to drizzle. Sticking her hands in her pockets, she looked up at the sky. She actually relished the feeling of the light drops bouncing off of her, some streaking across her face and body. Content for a moment, she stayed like that until she realized that she should go see how that boy was – and who he was, for that matter. Bringing her gaze back down again, she saw that he was walking away. She debated going to catch up with him and then decided that it probably wasn't worth it.
Most students were starting to head inside now, apparently bothered by the fact that it had barely started to rain. Oh, but what was that? Ruby could have sworn that she saw a glint out of the side of her eye when she turned her head. Focusing on trying to find out what it was, she determined that it had come from the rocks near the place that boy had been. She wandered closer, stepping across the increasingly slick stones with ease. She could see it better now – it seemed to be a necklace, perhaps a locket. Kneeling near it, her finger brushed against the steel and she noticed now that it said "Lestrange". Was the boy Thomas Lestrange? The first year she had seen around in the common room and classes? The one that was whispered about occasionally? Of course, Ruby knew not to believe everything she heard, but she was still curious about the boy.
Knowing the necklace wasn't hers and shouldn't be interfered with, she backed away from it, retreating to a place near her original spot. She looked around for the boy, and then it started pouring. Through the rain, she could see him running back. Now that she could see his face, she recognized him. Yes, she supposed that was Thomas Lestrange, assuming that she had got the name correct.
Was he crying? She frowned slightly as he pulled rocks aside. He was so close to the necklace, but it was just on the other side of the place where he was searching. She could no longer do nothing – now, she felt obliged to go help, even if he snapped at her. She walked over again. “Hey. Thomas Lestrange, right? Is this what you're looking for?” she asked, her voice raised more than usual to make herself heard over the rain. She was pointing down at the necklace as she spoke, and then crouched down and carefully lifted it off the stones, handing it to him.
Stamina: 10 | Evasion: 14 | Strength: 5 | Wisdom: 17 | ArcPower: 12 | Accuracy: 17
Perfectionist I & II, Fearless, Spell Spread, Nonverbal Magic
iNPC Vyacheslav Aleksandrovich Preobrazhensky
20 Mar 2019, 03:38
The muddled squall
The consequences of losing this possession were minor, his mother would understand. It was surely replaceable. The real impact would be internal, Thomas took solace in the possession, as a reminder. His relationship with his mother was strong, it had to be to make up for his father's absence. Not without conflict, they had a fair share of arguments during his early years in New Romney. Whether it to be his tendency for violence, or the multitude of counseling sessions he tried to weasel out of. They always managed to find common ground, which was a tribute to his mother's fierce love and acceptance for Thomas. He would not care to admit it to other students, but the void of her presence was what he missed most.
Then he felt it, a presence approaching, muffled footsteps forcing the subtle separation of rocks. His eyes traveled up to see a girl, no taller than he, perhaps a first year. Her expression reflected a hint of concern, though he assumed everyone to be hostile.
“Hey. Thomas Lestrange, right? Is this what you're looking for?”
He gazed helplessly at her hand when she reached to retrieve what he had been missing, allowing the circular case to drift through the air with water dripping from the bottom. Thomas opened his palm below, allowing her to drop it. His breathing rate slowed, the rain drops washed whatever tears remain off his face. The decision the girl made to assist him was already one of the kindest notions he's yet to receive at the school. A small smile appeared when Thomas regained his footing to stand at her level. "T--thank you..." He muttered, voice broken up. It was embarrassing to think he's only just met the girl, and she has already seen him cry. "You are...? He spoke just loud enough to be heard over the rain.
The rainfall lightened, or perhaps the faded intensity within him only made it appear so. Thomas remained indifferent to the water that drenched him, though the temperature seemed to be dropping. The crash of thunder fluctuated throughout the storm, it was hard to determine if it was moving closer or further away. "How did you know?" He dropped the necklace into his pocket near his wand. "Where it was, I mean." He clarified, before glancing at the sky and the increasingly fading visibility. "We should head back, don't you think?" He recollected the professor telling him to head back to the castle in the event of a heavy storm. If there was a spell that could emulate an umbrella, now was a good time.
Then he felt it, a presence approaching, muffled footsteps forcing the subtle separation of rocks. His eyes traveled up to see a girl, no taller than he, perhaps a first year. Her expression reflected a hint of concern, though he assumed everyone to be hostile.
“Hey. Thomas Lestrange, right? Is this what you're looking for?”
He gazed helplessly at her hand when she reached to retrieve what he had been missing, allowing the circular case to drift through the air with water dripping from the bottom. Thomas opened his palm below, allowing her to drop it. His breathing rate slowed, the rain drops washed whatever tears remain off his face. The decision the girl made to assist him was already one of the kindest notions he's yet to receive at the school. A small smile appeared when Thomas regained his footing to stand at her level. "T--thank you..." He muttered, voice broken up. It was embarrassing to think he's only just met the girl, and she has already seen him cry. "You are...? He spoke just loud enough to be heard over the rain.
The rainfall lightened, or perhaps the faded intensity within him only made it appear so. Thomas remained indifferent to the water that drenched him, though the temperature seemed to be dropping. The crash of thunder fluctuated throughout the storm, it was hard to determine if it was moving closer or further away. "How did you know?" He dropped the necklace into his pocket near his wand. "Where it was, I mean." He clarified, before glancing at the sky and the increasingly fading visibility. "We should head back, don't you think?" He recollected the professor telling him to head back to the castle in the event of a heavy storm. If there was a spell that could emulate an umbrella, now was a good time.
We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be
Stamina: 8 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 7 | Wisdom: 8 | ArcPower: 3 | Accuracy: 7
Ability - Evasive Maneuvers 2x
21 Mar 2019, 20:40
The muddled squall
When Ruby held the necklace out, she had been silently praying that he wouldn't get mad at her. After all, many would snap at her, snatch it from her grasp, glare at her, or yell at her just for holding it. Sometimes, people were touchy regarding their possessions, even if someone else had helped them to find it. She had noticed the way Thomas had looked at her helplessly as she held it out to him. Why was that? Did he think she'd take it from him right in front of his eyes? That would be incredibly mean and rude, when he so obviously cared about it a lot. Besides, he definitely seemed physically stronger than her, anyway. Her words were what was powerful, her weapon – if she needed to strike someone down, she did it through speech or magic, not physically. Although she was fast, she doubted she could get away if he decided to attack her, since they were too close together right now and he could simply lunge at her.
Why would she want to take the necklace? It wasn't of use to her unless she could find out more information by opening the locket, or by giving it to someone else who would use it against him. However, the boy in front of her didn't deserve that. She had no reason in the slightest to be cruel towards him, and didn't want to, either. She wasn't in a bad mood and didn't want to cause anyone pain – no one from this school had particularly wronged her yet. Looking at Thomas, she realized that he had probably not had much kindness and affection directed towards him. From the distrusting look in his eyes to his tense body posture, it was easy to tell that he assumed the worst of others and had likely been through quite a lot. People seemed to either avoid him or target him, and although she hadn't paid much attention to this before, she was mildly aware that it had happened. That group of kids that had obviously been unkind to him just minutes ago was evidence of that.
When he stumbled over his words and seemed surprised that she had helped him – it had only been a small, simple act that she had done – she knew that she needed to help him. His smile, the vulnerability, just standing there and taking it when other students were unkind… she saw the kindness and emotional/mental strength within him. He would probably make an excellent friend. She was also aware that if she just left things the way they were, the worst in him would possibly be brought out over time. Being alone and mistreated only led to a build-up of anger, fear, distrust, hate, and so on. She didn't want to see that happen to someone that seemed like he could be so good, so kind, so happy. Of course, everyone (or almost everyone) had both good and bad inside them and the capability for both. Ruby herself was quite aware that she could tip either way under the right circumstances and depending on the people she would spend time with. She had to help him – for his sake. Ruby normally found herself doing things that served her and her own purposes, but she would do this for him. Of course, it would be nice if they could be treated as complete equals and form a friendship at some point, but she could wait for that. She was sure that she could bring out some happiness in him, and then he'd make a good friend – maybe she'd convince him to go prank people with her and cause some mischief, but that was something that couldn't and shouldn't be mentioned immediately.
Now, she should probably reply to what he said. “You're welcome. I'm Ruby Cazares,” she said with a warm, genuine smile. “I knew where it was because I had just seen something glinting, and when I got closer, I figured it was what you were searching for. I couldn't leave you to search for it by yourself and risk you not finding it when it was so close – just on the other side of the rocks.” When he mentioned heading back, she realized how soaked she was. She was completely drenched and water dripped off of her. Her body temperature was dropping and she gave an involuntary shiver. The declining temperature around them didn't help, and combined with the wet, it caused her to really feel the chill. She noticed the thunder and reckoned that it might soon be accompanied by lightning. Glancing out at the amount of grassy land they needed to cross, and around at all the puddles, she knew that if lightning came, it would be unsafe for them to be here. No one else was even out here any more – they had all disappeared inside.
“That's probably a good idea… I don't think it's particularly safe out here any longer, and we'll probably catch a cold…”
Stamina: 10 | Evasion: 14 | Strength: 5 | Wisdom: 17 | ArcPower: 12 | Accuracy: 17
Perfectionist I & II, Fearless, Spell Spread, Nonverbal Magic
iNPC Vyacheslav Aleksandrovich Preobrazhensky
1 Apr 2019, 07:26
The muddled squall
Assuredly grateful for the girl’s selfless act, Thomas’ history of unfortunate encounters sparked a looming sense of doubt if her intentions were truly genuine or of self-interest. This skepticism would bring him to consider all options. What was she in position to gain by helping him retrieve the necklace? Was is possible she was conspiring with some of the countless others who have looked down at him in disgust? Knowing his name only increased the growth of this uncomfortable vibe. Shaking this doubt was a challenge for the boy, but the fact remained she had shown him kindness. Given his lack of real friends, he couldn’t dismiss her as a possible ally.
“I'm Ruby Cazares.”
After giving her name, she would go on to explain the discovery with a genial smile. Thomas would attempt to look through her, probing for a sign of deceit. There was no ill will that he could detect, lowering his guard for the time being. Much more relevant to the moment was the storm that continued to build. The outer walls of the castle were scarcely visible, lingering any longer would make it difficult to find.
“That's probably a good idea… I don't think it's particularly safe out here any longer, and we'll probably catch a cold…”
Blue eyes traveled to leftmost corners without a tilt of his head with a subtle smirk. “I think a cold is our best outcome, Ruby.” He started to take longer strides until in a steady jog, turning back to yell “I hope you’re fast!” Picking up speed, Thomas pumped his arms to reach a full sprint through the wet grassy fields. Feeding off the adrenaline from the intense storm, he was able to maintain the quick pace for about a minute before turning back once more to see where Ruby was. If she was as fast as he, she would be right on his heels given his head start. If not as quick, she would trail ten to fifteen yards behind him [you decide].
When he took sight off the ground ahead, Thomas lead leg caught a small inclined patch of grass that sent him tumbling into the soaked grassy mud, rolling several times before coming to a halt. In addition to his head, robes collected a moderate amount of mud, the Slytherin symbol was no longer visible. He looked up into the pouring rain helplessly, using whatever uncovered part of his soaked sleeve remained to wipe his eyes. It was only getting darker. He knew what direction the castle was in but could no longer see it. A strike of lighting pierced the ground no more than a mile from the direction they came, the thunder joined almost simultaneously. It appeared the worst of the storm had arrived.
Thomas found Ruby when he stood up [she could have tripped over him if close behind, or she is just now catching up]. He pointed northeast in the direction of the castle, having to yell once more for her to hear him over the evergrowing storm. “We know the castle’s that way, it could be too far.” Turning to the west, Thomas motioned to the quidditch pitch for flying lessons and practices. “The broom shed is much closer!” His tone was urgent, opting to give Ruby the choice. After all, if not for her he would likely have been stuck at the shore looking for his necklace in a dire situation. “You decide… quickly!” The chance the professor locked the broom shed posed a risk of even getting in, though weighing it against the chances of traveling with no visibility and alternating lightning strikes offered some appeal.
“I'm Ruby Cazares.”
After giving her name, she would go on to explain the discovery with a genial smile. Thomas would attempt to look through her, probing for a sign of deceit. There was no ill will that he could detect, lowering his guard for the time being. Much more relevant to the moment was the storm that continued to build. The outer walls of the castle were scarcely visible, lingering any longer would make it difficult to find.
“That's probably a good idea… I don't think it's particularly safe out here any longer, and we'll probably catch a cold…”
Blue eyes traveled to leftmost corners without a tilt of his head with a subtle smirk. “I think a cold is our best outcome, Ruby.” He started to take longer strides until in a steady jog, turning back to yell “I hope you’re fast!” Picking up speed, Thomas pumped his arms to reach a full sprint through the wet grassy fields. Feeding off the adrenaline from the intense storm, he was able to maintain the quick pace for about a minute before turning back once more to see where Ruby was. If she was as fast as he, she would be right on his heels given his head start. If not as quick, she would trail ten to fifteen yards behind him [you decide].
When he took sight off the ground ahead, Thomas lead leg caught a small inclined patch of grass that sent him tumbling into the soaked grassy mud, rolling several times before coming to a halt. In addition to his head, robes collected a moderate amount of mud, the Slytherin symbol was no longer visible. He looked up into the pouring rain helplessly, using whatever uncovered part of his soaked sleeve remained to wipe his eyes. It was only getting darker. He knew what direction the castle was in but could no longer see it. A strike of lighting pierced the ground no more than a mile from the direction they came, the thunder joined almost simultaneously. It appeared the worst of the storm had arrived.
Thomas found Ruby when he stood up [she could have tripped over him if close behind, or she is just now catching up]. He pointed northeast in the direction of the castle, having to yell once more for her to hear him over the evergrowing storm. “We know the castle’s that way, it could be too far.” Turning to the west, Thomas motioned to the quidditch pitch for flying lessons and practices. “The broom shed is much closer!” His tone was urgent, opting to give Ruby the choice. After all, if not for her he would likely have been stuck at the shore looking for his necklace in a dire situation. “You decide… quickly!” The chance the professor locked the broom shed posed a risk of even getting in, though weighing it against the chances of traveling with no visibility and alternating lightning strikes offered some appeal.
We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be
Stamina: 8 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 7 | Wisdom: 8 | ArcPower: 3 | Accuracy: 7
Ability - Evasive Maneuvers 2x
19 Aug 2019, 21:52
The muddled squall
~ * ~Ruby noticed the way that Thomas seemed to be searching her, examining her. Why? Was he that distrusting of all others, or was it for some other reason? She saw the look but continued as if she hadn't, letting her genuine, true intentions stay out in the open. She had no desire to harm him in any way.
He mentioned a cold being the most preferable option and she smiled sheepishly. Her outlook had admittedly been rather optimistic, but she figured that it was nicer to try to be positive in a situation like this rather than to totally ruin the mood, right? Although, to be fair, the mood had been tinged with slight sadness, but at least there had been some hope, friendliness, and gratitude in the mix too. Despite the probable danger, Ruby found storms absolutely exhilarating, and that sense only grew stronger as he started to sprint away, with her speeding after him. She was very close to being as fast as him, due to years of enjoying running and from running away from people after pranking them. She couldn't stop the grin that spread across her face. The roaring of the storm, the howling of the wind, the lashing of the rain, and the racing of her heart all added to the adrenaline rush that didn't cease or even waver until Thomas crashed to the ground in front of her. She almost avoided falling too, but the uneven terrain combined with his movement and how sudden his fall had been caused her to topple over too, but she leapt up, not wanting to risk staying on the ground for long. Mud coated her robes and limbs and dripped off of her along with the water from the rain.
She glanced around, flinching at the lack of visibility. A squint in the direction of the castle yielded no successful results, and a slight bit of panic settled in. This wasn't just a game of some sort. There was no one else out here besides the two young Slytherins, lightning strikes were frequent and coming nearer, they were completely soaked, and they could no longer really see where they were going. Yet, despite that, Ruby was mostly unperturbed. Surely they'd find some way out of it, and then everything would be okay… Thomas had listed their options when he rejoined her, and gave her the ability to choose. “It's still pretty risky, but I say we go to the broom shed!” she hollered, and then darted off in that direction. Hopefully, it would be unlocked.~ * ~
Stamina: 10 | Evasion: 14 | Strength: 5 | Wisdom: 17 | ArcPower: 12 | Accuracy: 17
Perfectionist I & II, Fearless, Spell Spread, Nonverbal Magic
iNPC Vyacheslav Aleksandrovich Preobrazhensky
31 Dec 2019, 20:47
The muddled squall
"I say we go to the broom shed"
Without hesitation Thomas began a steady jog towards the shed, carefully scanning below to avoid another harsh encounter with the ground. The occasional gust of wind teased at picking the Slytherin youth off his feet, only hastening his steps. The broom shed looked like it had been there for centuries. The wooden planks that made up the exterior had countless dents along with the occasional hole. It was clear this building was not meant to withstand a massive storm, yet here it stood. Despite the uncomfortable feelings associated with using this shed as a shelter, Thomas knew it was the only option they had.
When they neared the backside of the shed, Thomas noted a collection of brooms in a large pile. They appeared beaten down, splintered wood with sporadic bristles. He deduced them to be part of a scrap pile, where these brooms were deemed unusable by the school officials. Thomas transitioned into a light jog until he neared the front door. With no handle to be seen, he attempted to push through the door, leading with his shoulder. With each repetition he increased the force, but the door remain unmoved. It was sealed shut, either by lock or a form of magic designed to keep unwanted parties out. Thomas took a few steps back, looking towards the top of the shed. Towards the roof was a diamond shaped window, perhaps just large enough for one of the two to fit through. "Locked... any ideas?"
Several moments passed with Thomas gazing at the window, desperately searching for a route to reach it. Though even if he was to find one, the slippery shingles would make it a foolish endeavor. He turned to Ruby in hopes she had a solution. "If I could just fly up to that window..." He motioned to the top of the shed. Fly... Thomas' eyes widened, staring past Ruby as quite possibly the worst idea entered his mind. "The brooms." Without consulting Ruby he rounded the corner of the shed, approaching the pile of damaged brooms they saw when arriving. He began to sort through them, scanning the contents of the wood in hopes to find one with few splinters.
After picking up a tossing several to the side, Thomas found a broom with largely smooth wood, just a few splinters near the top where a wizard would place their hands. The bristles, however, lacked in density. The broom contained about half the amount as the one Thomas used for his initial flying lesson earlier that afternoon. He circled back around the shed to Ruby, straddling the broom and carefully placing his hands below the splintered wood at the top. He gave her a momentary glance before looking up to the window. "If I can get close enough, I could hop through!"
Any wizard with at least a moderate understanding of flying would look at Thomas in horror. The unpredictability of a damaged broom could lead to severe consequences. Still, the Slytherin boy stood there straddling the broom, determined to reach the window. If Ruby were to intervene, this was her opportunity. Whether to find a way through the door, or pulling out her wand in attempt to stabilize Thomas during his ascent to the window. Regardless of her choice, the students needed to act with haste. The storm has shown no signs of letting up, the temperature continuing to drop near the point of freezing.
Without hesitation Thomas began a steady jog towards the shed, carefully scanning below to avoid another harsh encounter with the ground. The occasional gust of wind teased at picking the Slytherin youth off his feet, only hastening his steps. The broom shed looked like it had been there for centuries. The wooden planks that made up the exterior had countless dents along with the occasional hole. It was clear this building was not meant to withstand a massive storm, yet here it stood. Despite the uncomfortable feelings associated with using this shed as a shelter, Thomas knew it was the only option they had.
When they neared the backside of the shed, Thomas noted a collection of brooms in a large pile. They appeared beaten down, splintered wood with sporadic bristles. He deduced them to be part of a scrap pile, where these brooms were deemed unusable by the school officials. Thomas transitioned into a light jog until he neared the front door. With no handle to be seen, he attempted to push through the door, leading with his shoulder. With each repetition he increased the force, but the door remain unmoved. It was sealed shut, either by lock or a form of magic designed to keep unwanted parties out. Thomas took a few steps back, looking towards the top of the shed. Towards the roof was a diamond shaped window, perhaps just large enough for one of the two to fit through. "Locked... any ideas?"
Several moments passed with Thomas gazing at the window, desperately searching for a route to reach it. Though even if he was to find one, the slippery shingles would make it a foolish endeavor. He turned to Ruby in hopes she had a solution. "If I could just fly up to that window..." He motioned to the top of the shed. Fly... Thomas' eyes widened, staring past Ruby as quite possibly the worst idea entered his mind. "The brooms." Without consulting Ruby he rounded the corner of the shed, approaching the pile of damaged brooms they saw when arriving. He began to sort through them, scanning the contents of the wood in hopes to find one with few splinters.
After picking up a tossing several to the side, Thomas found a broom with largely smooth wood, just a few splinters near the top where a wizard would place their hands. The bristles, however, lacked in density. The broom contained about half the amount as the one Thomas used for his initial flying lesson earlier that afternoon. He circled back around the shed to Ruby, straddling the broom and carefully placing his hands below the splintered wood at the top. He gave her a momentary glance before looking up to the window. "If I can get close enough, I could hop through!"
Any wizard with at least a moderate understanding of flying would look at Thomas in horror. The unpredictability of a damaged broom could lead to severe consequences. Still, the Slytherin boy stood there straddling the broom, determined to reach the window. If Ruby were to intervene, this was her opportunity. Whether to find a way through the door, or pulling out her wand in attempt to stabilize Thomas during his ascent to the window. Regardless of her choice, the students needed to act with haste. The storm has shown no signs of letting up, the temperature continuing to drop near the point of freezing.
We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be
Stamina: 8 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 7 | Wisdom: 8 | ArcPower: 3 | Accuracy: 7
Ability - Evasive Maneuvers 2x
14 Jan 2020, 17:15
The muddled squall
OC: We agreed to conclude this thread as it is well in the past and prefer to focus on new threads in the present.
Reducio
The conclusion: Ruby and Thomas find a way into the broom shed at Thomas' expense. They get to know one another better and form a friendship. Hours later they are discovered by an NPC or professor and escorted back to the castle.
We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be
Stamina: 8 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 7 | Wisdom: 8 | ArcPower: 3 | Accuracy: 7
Ability - Evasive Maneuvers 2x