22 Jan 2024, 17:51
I'm Fine
watch my shattered edges glisten
She had come in to do her homework. She knew it was weird to do your homework on Christmas Eve of all days, but there wasn't really much to do now that she'd wrapped all her presents. She knew that she should be celebrating, but she just felt a dull ache where all her excitement would usually be. Usually she'd be sitting around the dinner table, playing cards with her parents, but they weren't home and so she'd decided to stay at Hogwarts for the holidays.
It's fine. I'm fine. Just focus on the homework.
Estelle took a deep breath, trying to do the homework, but her vision swam as tears appeared in her eyes. She blinked them back.
Why am I even crying. I should be happy - it's Christmas! I should go find my friends and celebrate.
Estelle tried to get up, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She knew if she met someone now, she'd probably cry. And she couldn't do that. She was the happy friend. The fun friend. The friend that would listen to your problems and help you work through them, without offloading her own. She was... crying.
Shoot.
mentions/interactions: @Victoria Lena Jones word count: 201/200 time: 4pm date: 24/12/22 ✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬
Ernest and Estelle's You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough |
22 Jan 2024, 20:14
I'm Fine
Christmas Eve arrived and Tori had voluntarily wanted to stay at school. There were actually two reasons for this. The first one was wondering what Christmas would be like at Hogwarts, and the second one wanted to secretly leave little gifts at the school. She put her gifts for her dormitory friends in the bedside table drawers. While he was thinking about where he could go now, the idea of a library suddenly came to his mind. He immediately left the dormitory
She was happy to see that the library was almost empty. She didn't want to be found hiding gifts. 'I hope the librarian doesn't catch me or throw me away for cleaning purposes,' he hoped. Meanwhile, her eyes caught sight of someone sitting at one of the tables. Wait, was she crying? When he approached him, he realized that it was Es. Wait WAS ES CRYING? She felt his heart start to beat faster. She couldn't understand it, but he didn't question it. She sat right next to her.
"Omg Es Are you okay? What happened? Y-you are crying. Did someone upset you? Did you get bad news? What happened? Please do not cry. Is there anything I can help with?"
She spoke worriedly. She felt like there was something she couldn't figure out about her, but at the same time, she was wondering why Es was upset and wanted to make her happy.
@Estelle Nyx
23 Jan 2024, 22:49
I'm Fine
watch my shattered edges glisten
She doesn't need to see me cry - I'm just going to ruin the mood. Come on Es, smile! Think happy thoughts!
Estelle realised Tori, despite Es' best efforts, had noticed Estelle's tear-stained face and watery eyes. Tori sat down next to her, and asked what was wrong, prompting another wave of tears from Estelle.
"I-I'm fine, really. It's stupid. I-I don't even really know why I'm crying. I'm so sorry for ruining your Christmas Eve - Christmas Eve is not a time for crying. I don't know what's wrong with me. I should be happy; I'm at Hogwarts with my friends and it's Christmas Eve. Tomorrow they'll be presents and fun and -"
Get it together Estelle! Stop crying!
Estelle took another deep breath, hoping that it would stop the endless onslaught of tears. She couldn't remember the last time she'd cried this much - scratch that - she couldn't remember the last time she'd cried. Not since Artie.
She rarely cried - it felt like admitting she wasn't as perfect as she seemed. Ever since she was little, she'd learned to bury her sadness behind smiles and laughs. It was easier that way. Nobody worried about her if she never gave them anything to worry about.
"Sorry for getting so upset. I'm probably in your way - you go do what you came here to do and I'll just... leave."
Estelle got up and turned to go.
mentions/interactions: @Victoria Lena Jones word count: 246/200 time: 4pm date: 24/12/22 ✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬
Ernest and Estelle's You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough |
24 Jan 2024, 23:10
I'm Fine
While Tori was listening anxiously to Es, she was confused by something she was saying. She said they would be given gifts, so he didn't count herself. I wonder if she wouldn't be able to get a gift? Or maybe he had a problem with her family. She realized that he really wanted to hug Es now, but a feeling prevented him from hugging her.
Tori rarely spoke her mind directly. She would keep silent. This was one of those rare times. Even though she tried to play with children when she was little, she would do it even if she knew they didn't like it.
Wait, was she going to leave? When he saw her standing up, she immediately stood up and hugged Estelle tightly.
""Don't go. Please. No, you're not stopping me. Do you have a problem with your family? Aren't you going to take my gift? If you don't want to tell me, that's okay, but know that I'll be there for you whether you understand it or not."
She left Es and sat her down at the table again so as not to hurt her. She wiped the tears from the girl's eyes with his thumb, sat next to her again, and carefully placed the bag with the gift on her back on the table.
@Estelle Nyx
28 Jan 2024, 17:43
I'm Fine
watch my shattered edges glisten
Es prepared to tell the truth. Whatever reservations she had had earlier were gone, and honest words came flooding out of her.
"I love my family. This is my first ever Christmas without them and I really miss them. I was planning on going back home for the holidays, but both of my parents had really good leads on interviews in other countries and my Grandfather was away so I said I'd stay here.
I really want to just have a fun Christmas, but I don't really feel in the spirit. Or at least I didn't. Talking to you has definately helped. I don't know why, but there's something that makes me feel so much happier when I'm with you. Thank you for being such a good friend."
Estelle hugged Tori, feeling better than she had in weeks. It was as if a huge weight had been lifted off her chest.
"Oh! I almost forgot! I have my gift for you in my bag. I was gonna give it to you tomorrow, but it makes more sense to give it to you now. We can do a gift swap!"
Estelle was very proud of her gift for Tori. She knew Tori loved flowers, especilly if she could paint them. But, Estelle had thought, what if Tori could use the actual flowers in her art? Estelle had bought Tori a flower press and a green palette of watercolours. Es really hoped that Tori would love it.
mentions/interactions: @Victoria Lena Jones word count: 312/200 time: 4pm date: 24/12/22 ✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬
Ernest and Estelle's You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough |
28 Jan 2024, 23:50
I'm Fine
Tori was listening to Es with understanding eyes. Her family was away, so she thought it must be sad that she had to stay in school. She didn't expect him to hug her again. When Es hugged her, she felt warm and filled with happiness. She returned Es' hug.
"Did you buy me a gift? There was no need. Actually, I had a little gift too."
She opened her bag with difficulty. Even though it was a little difficult, she pulled out a gift package with purple wrapping and a white bow from the crowd of gifts. When she told her that the flower she loved was snowdrop, he bought her a necklace in the shape of a purple snowdrop, and in a letter he had sent to his mother, she asked for a small jar of magical snowdrop scent. When she sprayed it on the necklace, the necklace started to smell like a snowdrop. Along with the necklace, there was also a unicorn plush toy.
Tori's jaw dropped when she unwrapped her own gift. Inside was a flower printing machine and a green watercolor palette.
"These are really beautiful. I really needed it. Thank you so much Es."
It was the first time a friend bought him a gift, and it was something very valuable to him. When he looked at the gifts Es received, he thought his own gifts were a little normal
@Estelle Nyx
9 Feb 2024, 15:31
I'm Fine
watch my shattered edges glisten
Estelle accepted her present, gently pulling off the bow. She was most definately not the kind of person to gently peel wrapping - her impatience saw to that, and she tore open the wrapping, pulling out a toy unicorn. She grinned. The unicorn was adorable, and a perfect gift for Estelle - she loved magical creatures.
"I'm gonna name you Sparkles!"
As she put Sparkles back down on the table, she noticed the necklace that had been hidden beneath the unicorn. It was a gorgeous purple snowdrop necklace. Estelle felt a blush spread across her cheeks as she looked up at Tori.
Estelle clasped the necklace around her neck, recognising a faint scent of snowdrops. She held the necklace closer, realising that as well as looking like a snowdrop, it had the beautiful scent of one. It reminded her of home.
Estelle felt a tear fall from her face but this time, it was a tear of joy.
"Tha-thank you. This is just what I needed."
mentions/interactions: @Victoria Lena Jones word count: 207/200 time: 4pm date: 24/12/22 ✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬✬
Ernest and Estelle's You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough |