2 Jul 2022, 07:13
À bientôt
--- Date: 01/07/22 || Time: 10:35 ---
Sophia wasn't even that early, but by some miracle, she'd managed to find the same compartment she'd ridden in with Sage and Kim back on September 1st of the previous year. Surprisingly, it had been totally empty.
She was exhausted, and not just from hauling her heavy trunk onto the train. She was exhausted from a long year of studies. She was exhausted from ups and downs with her friends. And mostly, she was exhausted from a night spent awake with little sleep, knowing and dreading her departure from the people she'd grown to love the previous year.
She was going to miss them all so much.
Sage - Piñata - was her first ever friend. The girl who'd been there for her on her first day arriving at the castle. Sage had - at the beginning of the year - been the picture of perfection in Sophia's eyes. A girl who was intelligent, talented and dignified. Not to mention her 'mama-bear-esque' protectiveness or her height.
But there was more than perfection when it came to Sage. There was also insecurity of her place in the world in relation to her brother, Gus. The poor girl thought she couldn't compare, but to anyone that had met her, she was beyond comparison. From her adorable manner of speaking to the way she presented herself in every interaction, Sophia loved Sage so, so much, and she would do anything for her. It was going to be hard saying goodbye.
Kim was in a similar boat to Sage. That actually made sense, given that they'd all met each other at the same time. He was also one of Sophia's best friends, but it was a bit more complicated.
He did almost everything with Sophia, sometimes inadvertently. They'd been stuck together in clubs, in classes, and even at the disastrous Ball in April. Sophia had had her third crush of her life on Kim, and even when she'd learned he was actually gay, her love for him never went away, it just changed. Kim was always there for her, and even though he'd been a bit slow at opening up emotionally, he was a big softie at heart.
Gem - previously Sable, now Silver - was, well, complicated for Sophia. They'd met a few times early in the school year, and, despite Sophia's stupid awkwardness in their early meetings, they'd hit it off rather well, becoming quick friends. After months of friendship, the Blossom Ball had driven a wedge between them. Well, more specifically, Sophia had driven the wedge out of jealousy. At first she'd believed it was jealousy over Kim, but she'd later realized it was actually jealousy over Gem.
It had been a tough pill to swallow that she'd been... attracted to Gem, but she'd reluctantly accepted that - as long as she didn't act on it - it was perfectly okay to admit her feelings to herself. Now, they'd made up at last, and they were friends once more, but there was still an undercurrent of awkwardness on Sophia's part, borne mostly of the guilt she felt for almost ruining their friendship for good.
Pax - never Pox - was like a vaccine for the worldly knowledge Sophia had never gained in her upbringing. They'd introduced Sophia to the concepts of gender, sexuality, Pride, and all of the things she'd never learned in Mass or her conservative household growing up. They were essentially opening her eyes to the ways of the world in ways she'd never imagined before.
For instance, Sophia had never once considered the existence of other genders than 'boys' and 'girls' beyond skimming headlines in news articles on her phone back home, but Pax had taught her about the existence of enbies, and - more specifically - that they themselves were what's called a 'demi-girl.'
Beyond these lessons in gender, though, Sophia could admit - at least internally - that Pax was very funny with their particular brand of chaos and assertiveness. She never knew what was going to happen when Pax was involved, and while she was sometimes fearful because of it, she still loved having them around.
Colin - or Collie, as she affectionately called him - was essentially Sophia's brother. She knew all about the 'found family' tropes in movies and comic books. Heck, one of her favorite series - 'Guardians of the Galaxy' - basically crank the trope to eleven. Still, despite having a loving grandma, Sophia considered Collie to be her own found family. He was the Rocket to her Star-lord. Well, she was nothing like Star-lord, but the thought still counts!
They'd only known each other for a few months, but Sophia had made a promise to always be there for him, and she knew he'd do the same. Blood or not, tropes aside, they were siblings, and she loved him.
As Sophia reflected on her friends, and all their happy times together, she had to fight back tears. She was going back to her grandma, and she should have been excited to see her, but she wasn't, and that made her feel terrible.
She leaned on the window of the compartment and looked out as more students filed into the train.
Did they dread the thought of leaving Hogwarts, or did they look forward to it as she had in her days in muggle school?
Well, there was nothing Sophia could do about it. She was leaving regardless of how she felt. It wasn't even going to be that long. A month. That was it. She could last a month before coming back to Summer camp, but there was always going to be that paranoia that she'd lose her friends as she had when she'd moved to Ireland.
She didn't think she could handle that loneliness again.
She sighed and desperately wished Amelia was with her and not with her trunk - and a lot of the other owls - in the cargo compartment of the train.
Notes:ReducioThe '11 am' time was an assumption on my part. In the books, the train leaves King's Cross at 11 am, so I assumed it was the same at the end of the year for the return trip. If you guys want to ride to London together, I made this thread. Just pop in when you feel like it
Interacting:
Mentioning:
@Sage Lilly || @Kim Sato || @Gemima Sable || @Pax Zhang || @Colin McCoire
4 Jul 2022, 08:35
À bientôt
Outfit: Comfy train attire!
【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】
First year at Hogwarts-- complete!
Gemima stretched as she strode down the train's hallway, popping a few joints as she went. And what a year it had been! So many twists and turns that she never could have expected. She'd made friends, enemies, and even crushed on a boy for the first time. It had been a total whirlwind of emotion, activity, and learning.
She liked to think that she had come out a changed girl because of everything. Gem had successfully come out of her shell, and shown the world just how magical and amazing she could be. She felt more secure in herself--more confident. There may still have been a few loose ends left to tie up, but one thing was for certain--she couldn't wait to return as a second year!
The possibilities were endless, and she was eager to tell her parents all about her time at Hogwarts.
(They seemed just as estatic as she felt, at least from their last letter. Mum had even promised they'd be going to get a surprise when she got home...)
Gem hummed idly as she began the familiar process of selecting a compartment to sit in. Cath was long gone, having run off with her own new companions. They had promised to find each other later, though, so she wasn't too anxious.
Just then, Gemima spotted a familiar shock of red hair through a compartment window. She carefully slid it open, and knocked softly on the doorframe.
"Mind if I join you?"
【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】
@Sophia Nelson
Last edited by Gemima Sable on 5 Jul 2022, 07:14, edited 2 times in total.
"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
4 Jul 2022, 09:13
À bientôt
Sophia was idly thumbing the cover of her copy of 'Magical Draughts and Potions' as she waited for the inevitable departure of the Hogwarts Express. It was the only book she'd brought, just like the first day on the Express back in September. It was, in all honesty, her favorite school book. She'd learned so much, and she'd brewed potions she'd never believed possible before coming to Hogwarts.
As she leaned against the window, watching the other students outside, her brooding thoughts of missing Hogwarts were interrupted by the sound of a light tap on the door to the compartment. Her hair - which was down, for a change - swept around her face as she turned her head to face the door. She used her hand to swat the hair out of her eyes and even offered a quick blow, hoping the small burst of air would help clear her vision a bit.
When the hair was out of her eyes, it didn't help much, because the sight of the person in the entrance just made her vision blur once again.
"Mind if I join you?" Silver asked, and at the sound of her voice, Sophia was thankful she was sitting down, because her knees would be far too weak to support her. Not to mention the outfit. It was absolutely adorable, and the redhead was positive it would kill her if she could see it clearly through her dizzy haze.
Sophia looked as far away from Silver as her eyes were capable before she finally settled on cracking open her textbook and meticulously reading the first recipe she landed on. It was the Antidote to Uncommon Poisons, but she couldn't focus on the words on the page. She already knew it by heart anyway.
"Hey, Silver. Sure, come on, plenty of room here."
She focused on the book as she spoke, and her knuckles were turning white as she gripped the hard cover. This was harder than she'd expected it to be. Sure, they'd made up some time ago, but Sophia still felt so awkward around Gem.
Curse these traitorous feelings.
"Beautiful day, huh?" she asked casually as she reread the same sentence about seven times. Her feet were kicking absently on the floor, but she could hardly even tell. Her focus was on not looking at Gem, and not making a fool of herself.
She'd succeeded in one of those, at least.
Hopefully some of her other friends would come to the train, too. Then it would be just a bit less overwhelming. Not that Sophia didn't enjoy being alone with Gem. It was one of her biggest, most traitorous desires at that moment, but her heart couldn't handle it. She had to get home for the summer, sort out these awkward feelings, and come back born anew.
Until then, she had to suffer for her own weakness. It was her burden to bear.
@Gemima Sable
8 Jul 2022, 09:10
À bientôt
Outfit: Comfy train attire!
【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】
Gem beamed and slid the door shut before flouncing over to the seats.
"Yes, it is quite lovely out," she replied, plopping down right next to Sophia. "Summer isn't my favorite season--that'll be winter-- but it's still very nice." She sighed and stretched out a bit. She felt unusually sleepy today. Maybe it was all the hubbub building up to this very moment that had her so tired.
She resumed her humming, unsure of what to do. All of her things were stowed inside of her trunk, so she had nothing to entertain herself with. Gem found herself mirroring Sophia's swinging feet as the silence in the compartment grew more and more awkward.
Finally, Gem couldn't stand it anymore. She exhaled slowly, and scooted over to peer over Sophia's shoulder. "What are you reading?" she asked. The question was more out of need to fill the silence, but as she gazed down at the book in Soph's lap, she started to feel genuinely curious.
As she waited for Sophia to answer, she idly glanced up at the closed compartment door. Where was the rest of their little group? Surely Pax or Colin would have come barging in by now, knowing them.
【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】
@Sophia Nelson
"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
8 Jul 2022, 14:36
À bientôt
Attire: Usual weekend kit: Slytherin pride, neck ring, kilt, no shoes. Nothing fancy!Reducio
CLOMP!! - pat! - CLOMP!! - pat! - CLOMP!! - pat!
"Owooooooooooooooo!!!"
Colin ran pell-mell along the corridor of the Hogwarts Express, as it waited at Hogsmeade Station. Uhuu, his huge Indian eagle owl clung tenuously to his shoulder he loped along while his satchel bounced along slung from his other. He'd managed to get one shoe on, but the other one dangled by its laces from his hand. No longer afraid of the huge iron dragon as he had been on the platform at Kings Cross so very long ago, Colin found himself excited for the ride back to London!
"Wotcha lads! --- Commin through, commin through! --- Oof! Mind me poor toes! --- Uhuu! That's someone's pet, not a snack!!"
Colin slid past, ducked under, scooted between, and on at least one occasion actually stepped on and over the whole crowd of fellow Hogwarts students who were now boarding the train, wandering the corridor looking for a compartment with their friends, or perhaps one to snog with that one particular friends, or maybe even just to be alone and decompress after such a crazy and eventful year. Colin only knew that he wanted to find his friends and be with them.
As he looked into one compartment after another, so many were full of older kids or groups of first years that he didn't know. He wondered if he'd find Jarael on the train. A smile crossed his face as he thought of her. His Eyes of Sky. He hadn't seen her in a long while, and he absentmindedly careened into a seventh year leaving school for the last time and then he continued bounding along the corridors of each wagon.
Every now and then he saw someone he recognised and rattled the door handle or thumped on the window. On one compartment, he saw that crazy purple eyes girl --- Miss I Am So Perfect Regina Four Monger Miller If You Please! along with her sidekick, SparkleGirl. Colin never did find out her name. Or why Kim was hanging out with them. Anyway, he pressed his body against the compartment window and hooted at the girls before moving on with a merry laugh!
As he entered one of the last wagons, he sniffed the air of it. Colin grinned. He knew his friends had been here! He took off at full gallop!
CLOMP!! - pat! - CLOMP!! - pat! - CLOMP!! - pat!
"Owooooooooooooooo!!!"
Colin popped the compartment door open and threw his shoe inside! THUMPP!! The grubby shoe bounced off something and landed on the floor by the window; then he kicked off his other shoe and let Uhuu fly in and find a comfortable spot to roost.
At last Colin leapt into the compartment, flung off his satchel and jumped up onto the seat. Striking a pose, he drew his wand from his pocket and with a shout of triumphant joy cried: "Verdimillious!" Green sparks showered over the compartment's inhabitants and Colin collapsed onto the seat cushion, propping his bare feet up against the wall.
He turned towards his compartment mates. He smiled broadly, showing them all his fangs. "Hey SophiGems! Fancy meeting you lot here!"
@Sophia Nelson | @Gemima Sable || @Regina Miller | @Faye Simmons || @Jarael Morningstar
Keep your mind in hell; and don't despair.
Cursa McCoire
Rigel McCoire
8 Jul 2022, 20:54
À bientôt
Sophia flinched slightly at the close distance between her and Gem as the other girl scooched closer. She instinctively closed the book and scooted a bit farther, and closer to the window. She cringed internally at her own notable lack of smoothness.
"It's, uh, a b-book. About potions. Our, um, textbook," she explained, watching outside the window, hoping for a familiar colorful head of hair to stride along as he so tended to do when Sophia was near. Or, perhaps she would be lucky and see the marvelously tall Sage squeezing through the crowds. Or maybe she would even be lucky enough that Pax would muscle through the crowds like a pinball.
After a moment, her prayers were answered.
"Thank God," she muttered as a bright green light flooded into the compartment followed by the pitter patter of feet - one thudding more heavily than the other based on the sound of the stride. That could only mean one person.
"Collie!" she shouted happily, making to stand and run over to the boy, but she stopped herself when she saw the fluttering of wings above Colin. Was that...?
It couldn't be.
Could it?
But what if it was?
Were they allowed in the train compartments? If so, Sophia owed Amelia a huge apology later on.
Sophia scooped the owl into her arms and hugged it adoringly.
"Oh, such a beautiful boy, aren't you? Yes! Yes, you are! So beautiful, and strong, and smart! Oh you would get along famously with Amelia! Look at your strong beak! And your pristine feathers. Oh, you're so precious!"
Sophia seemed to remember her place at that moment, looking at Colin sheepishly.
"Hey, Collie," she greeted, still holding the owl.
@Colin McCoire || @Gemima Sable || @Kim Sato || @Sage Lilly || @Pax Zhang
10 Jul 2022, 23:34
À bientôt
Outfit: Comfy train attire!
【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】
"Ah, a good choice!" Gem chirped. She leaned in a bit more to get a closer look. "I haven't read through that particular textbook as much, compared to the others, but it's still a fascinating--"
The compartment door slid open with a clang. The two girls jumped apart as something hurtled into the space, just narrowly missing Gem's nose. She yelped, and toppled onto the floor in shock. The object-- a muddy shoe-- ricocheted off the window, and bright green sparks exploded all around them. Sophia seemed unaffected by the sudden chaos, and as Gem slowly sat up, she saw why.
"...Hi, Colin." she sighed, smiling wearily at the wild-haired boy. "I was wondering when you were going to appear."
She decided to remain on the floor for a little while, since her heart was beating so fast. But she was happy that Colin had managed to find them so quickly! Now the train ride would be all the more enjoyable. She smoothed out her skirt and leaned against the wall, feeling the vibrations of the tracks thrumming through her fingertips. This felt familiar. Hadn't she been doing something quite similar on the train ride to Hogwarts? Except back then, she was so nervous, and afraid of what was to come. Now, she felt content, and excited for the train rides ahead.
Gem sighed again, in content. She directed her attention to what she presumed was Colin's new owl. It was a beautiful creature, with mottled golden-brown feathers, and intense orange eyes.
"Is that an Indian eagle owl, Col?" she asked in awe, peering up at it. "Has it got a name?"
【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】
@Sophia Nelson | @Colin McCoire
"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
12 Jul 2022, 15:45
À bientôt
A year had gone by just like that.
It had felt like only yesterday that she’d climbed aboard the train, queasy and apprehensive of what lay ahead. Now, here she was, a little forlorn in the midst of the bustling corridor. Her brother had finally graduated, and while a part of her was relieved, it seemed wrong to be too joyful of his departure.
Gus was, after all, her older brother, and whether she admitted it or not, Sage looked up to him. He was like a shining pillar that’d swallowed her shadow and yet, her legs felt all jelly-like at the thought of being alone. She wasn’t exactly on her own, though - she had friends now, people she could rely on when things got tough. Sage was very grateful for that.
The girl ambled down the narrow aisle, glancing past compartments, and for once, letting her brother sulk by himself. She had intended to sit with Sophia and the others, anyway.
Head cocked to the side, Sage could hear familiar voices as she neared a particular carriage, the very same one she’d barged in on one fateful day. Her lips turned up, as she spotted the quirky redhead talking with Gem, along with a wild-haired, kilt-wearing boy and his immaculate owl. She raked a hand through her dark bob, curious at the emerald sparks spilling out of the cabin. Sage hesitated for a second, wondering if she should interrupt at all.
Sage didn’t know the boy very well, though she’d seen him hung around Sophia quite often. Of course, she made Gem’s acquaintance at the Blossom Ball, a pretty girl whose poise and calm Sage admired. There was no sign of Kim yet, however. She’d last seen the scarlet-haired boy at the Common Room; Sage had meant to ask about his plans for the summer but had gotten distracted by the pile of stuff she had yet to cram inside her school trunk.
Ack, just go on, already!
“Um, hullo!” the lanky girl waved awkwardly at the cabin’s occupants, her eyes crinkling in amusement. “Saved a spot for me, I hope?”
It had felt like only yesterday that she’d climbed aboard the train, queasy and apprehensive of what lay ahead. Now, here she was, a little forlorn in the midst of the bustling corridor. Her brother had finally graduated, and while a part of her was relieved, it seemed wrong to be too joyful of his departure.
Gus was, after all, her older brother, and whether she admitted it or not, Sage looked up to him. He was like a shining pillar that’d swallowed her shadow and yet, her legs felt all jelly-like at the thought of being alone. She wasn’t exactly on her own, though - she had friends now, people she could rely on when things got tough. Sage was very grateful for that.
The girl ambled down the narrow aisle, glancing past compartments, and for once, letting her brother sulk by himself. She had intended to sit with Sophia and the others, anyway.
Head cocked to the side, Sage could hear familiar voices as she neared a particular carriage, the very same one she’d barged in on one fateful day. Her lips turned up, as she spotted the quirky redhead talking with Gem, along with a wild-haired, kilt-wearing boy and his immaculate owl. She raked a hand through her dark bob, curious at the emerald sparks spilling out of the cabin. Sage hesitated for a second, wondering if she should interrupt at all.
Sage didn’t know the boy very well, though she’d seen him hung around Sophia quite often. Of course, she made Gem’s acquaintance at the Blossom Ball, a pretty girl whose poise and calm Sage admired. There was no sign of Kim yet, however. She’d last seen the scarlet-haired boy at the Common Room; Sage had meant to ask about his plans for the summer but had gotten distracted by the pile of stuff she had yet to cram inside her school trunk.
Ack, just go on, already!
“Um, hullo!” the lanky girl waved awkwardly at the cabin’s occupants, her eyes crinkling in amusement. “Saved a spot for me, I hope?”
i want a storm i can dance in. i want an excuse to change my life.
⸙ | replies will be slow-going #698B69
STA 6 | EVA 5 | STR 6 | WIS 8 | ARC 9 | ACC 6
12 Jul 2022, 19:37
À bientôt
"...Hi, Colin," Gem said. "I was wondering when you were going to appear.
Is that an Indian eagle owl, Col? Has it got a name?"
"Oh, aye! He is --- a bonny Indian eagle owl. I've called him Uhuu!" Colin replied. "That's bec---"
Colin was about to continue with Gem when Sophia squeaked happily.
"Oh, such a beautiful boy, aren't you?"
Colin blushed deeply as Sophia said those words. Wait. Soph---? Colin shook his head. "Wha---?" He turned his head towards Gem, to see if she understood what Sophia was on about.
Beautiful and strong and smart? Colin tried to turn towards Sophia but she was out of his visual range. His heart leapt! She'd never said anything like this to him before! Ever since that day in the library when they helped him sort some of his feelings out, Sophia had acted a bit queer. And now she was calling him beautiful and even Gem seemed seemed flustered!
He wriggled around so he could see everyone properly, but as the train got moving, Colin was thrown off balance and landed on the floor in Gem's lap. Still blushing from Sophia's compliments, Colin turned to face Gem. He laughed. "Er. S-sorry about that lass!"
Sophia was busy playing with Uhuu, and Colin's owl seemed to be enjoying the extra attention. Hopefully she didn't notice! It was then Colin noticed someone else had entered the compartment.
He looked up and saw a girl standing in the doorway. She was tall and brown haired and green eyed and really quite pretty. “Um, hullo!” she said. “Saved a spot for me, I hope?” She obviously knew either Sophia or Gem. He'd never met her before, and couldn't remember seeing her anywhere around school.
So Colin just stared into her green eyes. "Er..."
The ride back to London was certainly becoming exciting!
@Sophia Nelson | @Gemima Sable | @Kim Sato | @Sage Lilly | @Pax Zhang
Keep your mind in hell; and don't despair.
Cursa McCoire
Rigel McCoire
12 Jul 2022, 21:08
À bientôt
Sophia's attention was jerked rudely away from the adorable little owl when Colin lots his balance and fell. She regarded him quickly and tilted her head. Why'd the boy look so flustered? Was it because he'd fallen in Gem's lap? It was possible, but then again, wasn't he still obsessed with Jarael?
"You okay, Collie?" she asked, gently petting Uhuu as she looked to her brother in concern. Hopefully he was alright!
Her attention was once again caught by the sound of the compartment door opening, but this entrance wasn't as rowdy as Colin's. It was gentler, more subdued.
The awkward wave that accompanied Sage's entrance was so adorable and so Sage that Sophia forgot all about Colin briefly, so excited was she to see her best friend standing in the door way.
With Uhuu still perched upon her finger, she made a beeline toward the girl with the bob cut and wrapped her free arm around her in a tight hug, squishing their cheeks together in what appeared to be an attempt to squish them as closely together as was humanly possible.
Sophia was quite fond of Sage.
"Of course we saved a spot for you, Sage! There's always room for my Piñata," she said with a wide smile, pulling back from the hug. "The boy is Colin, he's super nice. You'll love him. Of course you know Gem, already."
She beamed happily at her friend and gestured at the owl on her fingers, adding excitedly, "And this is Uhuu, Colin's friend. Isn't he beautiful?"
She grabbed Sage's hand and happily dragged her over to the seats, wondering briefly if the girl recognized that this was the same compartment they'd met in.
Now if only Kim would arrive, they'd have come full circle!
@Uhuu || @Sage Lilly || @Colin McCoire || @Gemima Sable || @Kim Sato || @Pax Zhang