A Brilliant Mind and a Hollow Heart
Open, Limited Thread. Capping it at 3 people. I do not care who joins, I will make the journey interesting but please do not enter if you do not feel that you can keep up some semblance of activity [at least weekly]. I am comfortable with all levels of role-play including the verbose, the succinct, and everything in-between as long as it adheres to the site's minimum standard of 200 words per post.
The Hogwarts Express arrived at King's Cross Station Platform 9¾ on Saturday, September 1 at 11:00 on the dot. This locomotive was never late and today was no exception. The familiar red, magically-powered engine was a welcome sight. She was happy to return.
She was in Compartment B, the second room along that narrow corridor. There were dozens of students whom have already passed, some entered but none stayed. That compartment would remain empty less one, a young girl dressed in a simple back, goldenrod and and green sleeveless dress over a simple white blouse with a lace collar. A simple black angora sweater was folded on her lap. She seemed indifferent to the lonesome state of her cabin as well as the fact that the room in which she sat was quite frigid. It was at least ten degrees colder than the corridor from which one would enter through.
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When someone (you) enters, she would turn her head to face you. Her dark violet, almost black tresses pinned back with a pair of dark hairpins, pigtails on either side that reached only slightly past her shoulder in a pair of ringlets. She dressed young even for her youthful age of twelve but she did not appear to be bothered by this fact. To her this, as all things were, was utterly natural.
"Hello" the greeting standard enough. If she knew you and that would mean that you had a previous altercation with the girl as there was not a single incident or interaction with her that did not end well the previous year you might slam the door and walk away. Who could blame you, the girl was quite unwell. If you knew her or not, she would say the same thing. "I apologize for my appalling behavior last year," she would not remember her trespass against you. There were far too many and only a few men, well boys and a smattering of girls that stood out in her memory at all. For the most part you were likely irrelevant to her. [If you do wish to have a prior incident with her, by all means simply suggest something and if it sounds reasonable I will likely go with it.] "Come sit, join me... I have this large cabin all to myself, this space is not something that most enjoy on the first of September I assure you."
"Hello" the greeting standard enough. If she knew you and that would mean that you had a previous altercation with the girl as there was not a single incident or interaction with her that did not end well the previous year you might slam the door and walk away. Who could blame you, the girl was quite unwell. If you knew her or not, she would say the same thing. "I apologize for my appalling behavior last year," she would not remember her trespass against you. There were far too many and only a few men, well boys and a smattering of girls that stood out in her memory at all. For the most part you were likely irrelevant to her. [If you do wish to have a prior incident with her, by all means simply suggest something and if it sounds reasonable I will likely go with it.] "Come sit, join me... I have this large cabin all to myself, this space is not something that most enjoy on the first of September I assure you."
Just a trick of the lighting they said...
A Brilliant Mind and a Hollow Heart
Howie sprinted across the platform towards the Scarlet train. Another year, an here he was, late again! Darting through the crowd of adults bidding thier farewells to thier loved ones, he hopped on the locomotive just as the final whistle blew.
It hadn’t been a pleasant summer for the young Hufflepuff. Summer camp had been a bust, he had been dumped by his girlfriend, a chance encounter with a dementor, and not to mention the little demon girl who had brought it upon him! With a huff of frustration he adjusted the straps of his pack across his shoulders and made his way down the corridors.
Much as last year, the compartments were already packed with students. Another endless search for somewhere to sit. He peered into each of the small rooms looking for empty spots or familiar faces, none of which he found. This did nothing to help his already sour mood. Howie slid open the door leaving compartment A, hoping to have better luck in B.
Looking down the hall, he spotted someone slamming the second door down shut, leaving in a hurry. He scurried along hoping to take thier place. Howie opened the door and was met with a blast of frigid air. It was empty save all but one. His bright blue eyes met her black.
“You!” The bright in his eyes faded as anger fueled them. It surely explained the cold. This was no normal girl, but some spawn of hell. Icing on the cake he would be stuck spending his journey with her. Throwing his bag down he sat as far from her as possible.
It hadn’t been a pleasant summer for the young Hufflepuff. Summer camp had been a bust, he had been dumped by his girlfriend, a chance encounter with a dementor, and not to mention the little demon girl who had brought it upon him! With a huff of frustration he adjusted the straps of his pack across his shoulders and made his way down the corridors.
Much as last year, the compartments were already packed with students. Another endless search for somewhere to sit. He peered into each of the small rooms looking for empty spots or familiar faces, none of which he found. This did nothing to help his already sour mood. Howie slid open the door leaving compartment A, hoping to have better luck in B.
Looking down the hall, he spotted someone slamming the second door down shut, leaving in a hurry. He scurried along hoping to take thier place. Howie opened the door and was met with a blast of frigid air. It was empty save all but one. His bright blue eyes met her black.
“You!” The bright in his eyes faded as anger fueled them. It surely explained the cold. This was no normal girl, but some spawn of hell. Icing on the cake he would be stuck spending his journey with her. Throwing his bag down he sat as far from her as possible.
Her tone was unexpected, she seemed almost...pleasant. He gave her a angry look. “Save it Erin. Think I’d forget so easily?”"I apologize for my appalling behavior last year,"
A Brilliant Mind and a Hollow Heart
It is not in the stars to hold our destiny, but in ourselves.
Aravis wasn't completely excited to see the train. She wasn't a huge fan of trying to find a seat. It usually resulted in disaster for her. Her summer had been boring. Almost nothing new had happened, other than the fact her ex-enemy was living in her house. She hadn't got to summer camp, hadn't talked to anyone other than her brother and her new friend who could be annoying at times. Her Father and her youngest brother didn't even get to tell her by this year, instead her Aunt and Uncle dropped her off, watching to make sure she got onto the train.
Aravis had lost sight of her twin, who was probably already on away from everyone else as he usually was. She sighed before boarding the train looking for a place, heading away from the busy compartment A. Almost as soon as she entered compartment B she already heard people talking. Her ears picked up on one particular conversation however. "I apologize for my appalling behavior last year." The voice sounded familiar, Aravis had surely heard it somewhere. Almost as soon as she finished speaking someone else pipped up. "Save it Erin. Think I'd forget so easily?" That voice didn't sound familiar at all.
The former black haired second year smoothed her silver and blue dress down neatly before curiously going to see what was going on. She was thankful she had decided to braid some of her hair back so it wouldn't get in her face as it normally did. She saw a girl that had dark indigo hair and a boy who she didn't recall ever seeing before. Neither of them were familiar to her. "Pardon me sir, but if you aren't going to sit, I am. Could I just get past you very quickly?" She asked him, unsure of why she called him 'sir.' After all, he was only a few months older or younger than her at the most.
I will take what is mine with fire and blood.
"It seems to me that a queen who trusts no one is as foolish as a queen who trusts everyone."
A Brilliant Mind and a Hollow Heart
It was as if she was in a time loop, just the faces of each student that entered her compartment changed each time. The room was silent less the chug of the train, the squeal of the undercarriage and the rattle of her luggage. The door would open, a vaguely face would poke in. Most of their names were below her notice but she had seen them somewhere before and they seemed to remember her also.
This should have been the moment where Erin realized that she was lonesome, that all she needed was a friend or the love of a good woman. Perhaps she was dense or maybe she just was not a cliche. No, she wanted something. She was up to something and Howard was no fool.
“Save it Erin. Think I’d forget so easily?”
"How harsh," she complained as she glanced out the window. "Here I thought we could be besties." She was not looking at him but she was watching him, his reflection in the glass while pretending to have limited interest. "What did I do again? You seem too pretty to break." She commented, testing his balance. She let out a sigh as she would get up from her seat pressed against the window and she would approach Howard and moved next to him. This was his fault, he entered the car.
She was not one to limit herself with concepts such as personal space. She would try to sniff him. It did not matter if she was successful, he was repulsed by her and she was trying to get a rise from him. One of the only girls he would meet that was actively seeking pain.
It did not matter what she got from him, it would be enough. "I remember you," she verbally acknowledged a recollection. "I suppose I should feel something..." her voice trailed off. She did not feel anything, not concern for the fact that she was alone with him. Perhaps he was not threatening. Not guilt for harming a sweet, innocent Huffle. Not anything at all. She was not lonesome. She was not sad. She was not happy either. "But then what would you do with your righteous indignation if I felt the right thing? You need someone like me. Someone to blame. It makes it easier... easier to explain things away... easier to hide." Her eyes flickered with recognition. "I envy you, despite your bad-blood there is something about you I can almost respect. You sat down after meeting me once already. Brave. And maybe a bit foolish." She admitted with an shrug and potentially a bloody lip if he was a man that defended his personal space with force that is.
"Pardon me sir, but if you aren't going to sit, I am. Could I just get past you very quickly?"
One would suppose that both of them were in the girl's way. Yes, the girl would have overheard the exchange but if this girl recognized Erin, after all they shared the same house, she would likely see this as par for the course. An eccentric at best, an ineffectual bully at worst. Both fair descriptions, after all what was Erin's greatest known triumph? She had none. Still too weak and not clever enough.
Erin would look past Howard at the girl. Would she be any fun? She frowned at her, the gears in her head turning. "Pretty," Erin commented after a few moments of contemplation. "She is prettier than me, right Howard?" It was a trick question, not because he would have to deal with Erin feeling cross over his answer. She already knew what that would be, the girl could have been a troll and he would likely still affirm. That was not the point. This was a two-for-one, she might be reaching but avarice knows no bounds. She would back away from Howard just a bit, hands up as if she was surrendering. She of course was not, they were still in the midst of a battle just not of a physical nature. She picked the empty space across from the girl and took up as much space as she could, there was still plenty of space left next to wherever the girl has chosen to sit.
This should have been the moment where Erin realized that she was lonesome, that all she needed was a friend or the love of a good woman. Perhaps she was dense or maybe she just was not a cliche. No, she wanted something. She was up to something and Howard was no fool.
“Save it Erin. Think I’d forget so easily?”
"How harsh," she complained as she glanced out the window. "Here I thought we could be besties." She was not looking at him but she was watching him, his reflection in the glass while pretending to have limited interest. "What did I do again? You seem too pretty to break." She commented, testing his balance. She let out a sigh as she would get up from her seat pressed against the window and she would approach Howard and moved next to him. This was his fault, he entered the car.
She was not one to limit herself with concepts such as personal space. She would try to sniff him. It did not matter if she was successful, he was repulsed by her and she was trying to get a rise from him. One of the only girls he would meet that was actively seeking pain.
It did not matter what she got from him, it would be enough. "I remember you," she verbally acknowledged a recollection. "I suppose I should feel something..." her voice trailed off. She did not feel anything, not concern for the fact that she was alone with him. Perhaps he was not threatening. Not guilt for harming a sweet, innocent Huffle. Not anything at all. She was not lonesome. She was not sad. She was not happy either. "But then what would you do with your righteous indignation if I felt the right thing? You need someone like me. Someone to blame. It makes it easier... easier to explain things away... easier to hide." Her eyes flickered with recognition. "I envy you, despite your bad-blood there is something about you I can almost respect. You sat down after meeting me once already. Brave. And maybe a bit foolish." She admitted with an shrug and potentially a bloody lip if he was a man that defended his personal space with force that is.
"Pardon me sir, but if you aren't going to sit, I am. Could I just get past you very quickly?"
One would suppose that both of them were in the girl's way. Yes, the girl would have overheard the exchange but if this girl recognized Erin, after all they shared the same house, she would likely see this as par for the course. An eccentric at best, an ineffectual bully at worst. Both fair descriptions, after all what was Erin's greatest known triumph? She had none. Still too weak and not clever enough.
Erin would look past Howard at the girl. Would she be any fun? She frowned at her, the gears in her head turning. "Pretty," Erin commented after a few moments of contemplation. "She is prettier than me, right Howard?" It was a trick question, not because he would have to deal with Erin feeling cross over his answer. She already knew what that would be, the girl could have been a troll and he would likely still affirm. That was not the point. This was a two-for-one, she might be reaching but avarice knows no bounds. She would back away from Howard just a bit, hands up as if she was surrendering. She of course was not, they were still in the midst of a battle just not of a physical nature. She picked the empty space across from the girl and took up as much space as she could, there was still plenty of space left next to wherever the girl has chosen to sit.
Just a trick of the lighting they said...
A Brilliant Mind and a Hollow Heart
“Besties...you can’t be serious Erin.” Howie met her gaze through the reflection in the window. A familiar look flashed through those cold dark eyes. She was searching him for something.
“You know damn well what you did.” His tone was serious but he pushed down the anger growing in his belly. If thier experience over the summer together had taught him one thing it was to limit his emotional expression around this girl. If you could call her a girl. She looked like one, dressed like one, talked like one, but on the inside, nothing but the same black that gleamed in her eyes. Yes, best to be guarded around her.
Howie crossed his arms defensively as she stood and approached him, the air getting even colder as she sat down next to him. He couldn’t push away the memory. That damned cold air on a hot summer night. The night he had met Erin. The night she had set a dementor after him.
He gritted his teeth as she continued, trying to calm himself. Her words gasoline for the fire growing in his guts. The anger was not only for her, but also himself. The way he had felt that night, it haunted him. Not only was there terror and desperation, but as the creature approached him, a sense of exhilaration. He had never experienced anything with such power. What must it be like to have that much control on the world around you? Howie swallowed the thought, pushing it back down, allowing it to be drowned again by his anger. He could no longer hide it from Erin as he shot her a nasty look, his hand reaching for his wand.
“You know damn well what you did.” His tone was serious but he pushed down the anger growing in his belly. If thier experience over the summer together had taught him one thing it was to limit his emotional expression around this girl. If you could call her a girl. She looked like one, dressed like one, talked like one, but on the inside, nothing but the same black that gleamed in her eyes. Yes, best to be guarded around her.
Howie crossed his arms defensively as she stood and approached him, the air getting even colder as she sat down next to him. He couldn’t push away the memory. That damned cold air on a hot summer night. The night he had met Erin. The night she had set a dementor after him.
He gritted his teeth as she continued, trying to calm himself. Her words gasoline for the fire growing in his guts. The anger was not only for her, but also himself. The way he had felt that night, it haunted him. Not only was there terror and desperation, but as the creature approached him, a sense of exhilaration. He had never experienced anything with such power. What must it be like to have that much control on the world around you? Howie swallowed the thought, pushing it back down, allowing it to be drowned again by his anger. He could no longer hide it from Erin as he shot her a nasty look, his hand reaching for his wand.
Howie blinked. His fingers slid off of his wand and out into a welcoming gesture. It would be good to have another here, hopefully a neutral presence in between his raging emotions and Erin’s lack there of. “Please, come in and sit.” He said with false pleasantry."Pardon me sir, but if you aren't going to sit, I am. Could I just get past you very quickly?"
“Oh don’t be silly Erin, you’re both simply adorable.” He wouldn’t give in to her game so quickly."She is prettier than me, right Howard?"
A Brilliant Mind and a Hollow Heart
Aravis took a seat rather quickly and happily. This time her search for a spot didn't take so long. That thought alone made her happy. It was an odd silence for a bit, something Aravis hadn't heard since she started attending Hogwarts.Aravis listened not sure if the girl meant her or some one else. After all Aravis had interrupted them in the middle of a conversation."Pretty, She is prettier than me, right Howard?"So the girl's name was Erin. That sounded familiar, she was sure she had heard the name bounce off the walls of the corridor but not much to actually know anything about her. "Thank you, I think." The silver haired girl said with a rather puzzled look on her face."Oh don’t be silly Erin, you’re both simply adorable.”
Aravis stared at Howard for a moment trying to see if she could recognize him. He was a Hufflepuff, but that was all Aravis seemed to be able to gather. Aravis believed he had been at the blossomball but only saw the boy for a split moment and never said anything to him. The very memory at that day made her leg seem to sting from the burn she had gotten all the way up it. Maybe Verla or Ayleid knew him, they were all in Hufflepuff.
She was unsure of what to say in the awkward silence. Speaking had never been one of her skills. When she tried to spark a conversation it usually resulted in accidentally offending someone, or something worse.
I will take what is mine with fire and blood.
"It seems to me that a queen who trusts no one is as foolish as a queen who trusts everyone."
A Brilliant Mind and a Hollow Heart
“Besties...you can’t be serious Erin.”
One to hold grudges. Marvelous, he remembered her. His ire did not bother her, anger was honest and pure. There were so many others that would have politely taken their seat at the furthest point in the compartment. Their seething anger just beneath the surface as they plotted and connived. She did not fear a knife in her back anymore than one to her front, in fact she did not fear either at all. Fear is an emotion and she had none. Rather it was the disappointment that came with doing nothing, with their lack of resolve... their lack of passion... their wasted potential... their forsaken opportunity.
“You know damn well what you did.”
Good boy. Her toes curled in her shoes as her eyes glanced downward and she saw at his wand [not that one, the other one you pervert]. Thank Merlin, her mind sighed. She took a deep breath, someone was finally going to try and stop her. He would of course fail, they always did but a girl could hope. "Yes," she mouthed. She could feel it, it came like a crimson wave that washed over her.
His anger.
The void would be filled, even if it was only for a moment. It was this hollowness that truly ached the deepest parts of her, not the fear or the uncertainty. Pain was better than nothing. She realized that this was a dangerous game she was playing, Howard was not a muggle and he was capable of fighting back. She could feel him, this was an intimate moment that only she could savor. She was not capable of feeling but she felt him with intensity and she realized his darkened sentiments. She felt it too, the ire and the disgust, the anger and resentment. But there was also a curiosity... an exhilaration, that confused her. There was nothing to ask, nothing to wonder regarding her. Erin was a force of nature, a travesty, an irrelevant in terms of understanding. Of course Howard was not curious about her but rather enticed by the chaos, the reckless abandon and the adrenaline he felt the last time they met. The boy had a death-wish perhaps.
She might feel him but she did not understand him.
She felt his rage and took it as her own. That bitter intent bubbling... roiling but not spilling over anger. Howard lacked a poker face but he had control, she wondered how many years of experience he had holding back how he felt. If it was a skill he had If when his defenses would shatter? "Do you think I am scared?" Erin would ask. Howard chose to enter this compartment, he could have left her to her lonesome devices and there was no pity in his heart for her. Was this his attempt to regain his dignity, to take a bit of hers? Why was he here?
Things were going to get hot in that cold car, but they were interrupted.
Aravis Escanora, Slytherin. They shared a house but Erin was for the most part an unknown. She avoided the fanfare the other girls demanded. While they talked about boys, colored toenails or discussed holiday plans she simply watched them from the corner of the room. She had nothing to add because she did not care. She had nothing to add because what she did hope for, aspire to become -- was not socially acceptable to share.
It was a long train ride. She did not need to get to the main course just yet. Howard darling, you're delectable. She eyed the girl, she had an unusual appearance. It was not much to go on but she was more like a mannequin than a real person. Dressed pretty and made to be present but nothing more than window dressing. Time to deflect.
"Pretty, She is prettier than me, right Howard?"
She wanted to set off something. To cause a reaction. To feel that spark of hope and then feel it shatter.
"Oh don’t be silly Erin, you’re both simply adorable.”
Howard replied. He was smarter than he looked. Of course her standard was not particularly high. Dammit Howard. She internally pouted.
She had no shame. Fine, deal with end boss and avoid the mook.
"You say that now Howie, but you were not saying that last week!" She accused him, a better actress than student or human being. Erin was a terrible representative of either. She planted her left hand on her hip, her right moved sharply with her words. "Always looking for the newest pretty little thing. You think because you're" she had to think of something positive "Foofy-haired" she was pretty bad at compliments on the fly. "That you can just walk off with anything!"
She looked at Aravis and gave her a frown as she pretended to appraise her again. "You really are his type too. Pffft."
One to hold grudges. Marvelous, he remembered her. His ire did not bother her, anger was honest and pure. There were so many others that would have politely taken their seat at the furthest point in the compartment. Their seething anger just beneath the surface as they plotted and connived. She did not fear a knife in her back anymore than one to her front, in fact she did not fear either at all. Fear is an emotion and she had none. Rather it was the disappointment that came with doing nothing, with their lack of resolve... their lack of passion... their wasted potential... their forsaken opportunity.
“You know damn well what you did.”
Good boy. Her toes curled in her shoes as her eyes glanced downward and she saw at his wand [not that one, the other one you pervert]. Thank Merlin, her mind sighed. She took a deep breath, someone was finally going to try and stop her. He would of course fail, they always did but a girl could hope. "Yes," she mouthed. She could feel it, it came like a crimson wave that washed over her.
His anger.
The void would be filled, even if it was only for a moment. It was this hollowness that truly ached the deepest parts of her, not the fear or the uncertainty. Pain was better than nothing. She realized that this was a dangerous game she was playing, Howard was not a muggle and he was capable of fighting back. She could feel him, this was an intimate moment that only she could savor. She was not capable of feeling but she felt him with intensity and she realized his darkened sentiments. She felt it too, the ire and the disgust, the anger and resentment. But there was also a curiosity... an exhilaration, that confused her. There was nothing to ask, nothing to wonder regarding her. Erin was a force of nature, a travesty, an irrelevant in terms of understanding. Of course Howard was not curious about her but rather enticed by the chaos, the reckless abandon and the adrenaline he felt the last time they met. The boy had a death-wish perhaps.
She might feel him but she did not understand him.
She felt his rage and took it as her own. That bitter intent bubbling... roiling but not spilling over anger. Howard lacked a poker face but he had control, she wondered how many years of experience he had holding back how he felt. If it was a skill he had If when his defenses would shatter? "Do you think I am scared?" Erin would ask. Howard chose to enter this compartment, he could have left her to her lonesome devices and there was no pity in his heart for her. Was this his attempt to regain his dignity, to take a bit of hers? Why was he here?
Things were going to get hot in that cold car, but they were interrupted.
Aravis Escanora, Slytherin. They shared a house but Erin was for the most part an unknown. She avoided the fanfare the other girls demanded. While they talked about boys, colored toenails or discussed holiday plans she simply watched them from the corner of the room. She had nothing to add because she did not care. She had nothing to add because what she did hope for, aspire to become -- was not socially acceptable to share.
It was a long train ride. She did not need to get to the main course just yet. Howard darling, you're delectable. She eyed the girl, she had an unusual appearance. It was not much to go on but she was more like a mannequin than a real person. Dressed pretty and made to be present but nothing more than window dressing. Time to deflect.
"Pretty, She is prettier than me, right Howard?"
She wanted to set off something. To cause a reaction. To feel that spark of hope and then feel it shatter.
"Oh don’t be silly Erin, you’re both simply adorable.”
Howard replied. He was smarter than he looked. Of course her standard was not particularly high. Dammit Howard. She internally pouted.
She had no shame. Fine, deal with end boss and avoid the mook.
"You say that now Howie, but you were not saying that last week!" She accused him, a better actress than student or human being. Erin was a terrible representative of either. She planted her left hand on her hip, her right moved sharply with her words. "Always looking for the newest pretty little thing. You think because you're" she had to think of something positive "Foofy-haired" she was pretty bad at compliments on the fly. "That you can just walk off with anything!"
She looked at Aravis and gave her a frown as she pretended to appraise her again. "You really are his type too. Pffft."
Your Move Howard and Aravis.
Just a trick of the lighting they said...
A Brilliant Mind and a Hollow Heart
Aravis was unsure what Erin meant by that. "So you're saying is his type is long dyed hair and mental issues that's....lovely." She said with no real meaning. After all, what was she supposed to say to the girl, it wasn't like Aravis normally was told such things. It was odd to here really. She wasn't sure if the girl was trying to mess with her head or mess with Howard's. The white haired girl was unsure what to think of the two, but mostly was curious of Erin. Something about the girl, her mannerisms, they way she spoke, all of it intrigued Aravis."You really are his type too. Pffft."
It was hard to understand, the whole concept of what was going on, the tension in the air, all of it. Aravis knew how to read most situations but this one she couldn't get an idea of what would and what had happened. It annoyed the blue eyed girl to no end. She hated not being able to read situations. She made a mental note to be on guard when she was near Erin, something about her seemed off, but oddly familiar, she couldn't figure out what is what at all.
Reducio
Sorry for the late reply, I thought Howard was going to reply so I waited for a bit.
Sorry for the late reply, I thought Howard was going to reply so I waited for a bit.
I will take what is mine with fire and blood.
"It seems to me that a queen who trusts no one is as foolish as a queen who trusts everyone."
A Brilliant Mind and a Hollow Heart
Erin had asked just before Avaris entered the compartment. Howie looked into those dark eyes as she made her query. His anger wanted her to fear him, she surely deserved it, but his logic told him otherwise. Erin was incapable. Through foggy memory he remembered. She had just stood there as the creature bore down upon them, completely unaffected. As Howie collapsed into his fear and despair, Erin calmly spoke to it. Claiming him. She had saved him that night, but it came with a price, a curse he couldn’t break. The thoughts that stayed with him through the day, haunting his dreams at night. Howie’s jaw clenched as he pushed the anger back once more."Do you think I am scared?"
The beast in Howie’s belly threatened to burst forth. Erin had gone from trying to trigger Avaris to telling lies. It was as if she could feel his emotions, knowing just where to attack. Making him out to be a womanizer, when it was only one girl that had his heart. Sweet Rosie. Thier relationship forced to an end as she was pulled from Hogwarts after the lock-in, forbidden from any contact with the magical world. Howie closed his eyes for a moment and attempted to control his breathing. A storm of emotions tore through him. Anger rolled into sadness, resentment collided with nostalgia. With a hard swallow he pushed it all back down. His crystal blue eyes popped back open, a flash of intensity towards Erin before they softened for Avaris. He was determined to best her, or at least try. She may have left her mark on him, but he would at least try to spare Avaris the same fate."You say that now Howie, but you were not saying that last week!"
Howie watched Avaris as she spoke, attempting to brush off Erin’s awkward remarks with a...joke? He was glad she wasn’t giving Erin the rise she was looking for, however the look in her eyes concerned him. Howie could see the intrigue. He knew that look because he too had once looked at Erin that way. It was how it all started. Howie would have to try and keep Erin’s focus on him. The only question was how."So you're saying is his type is long dyed hair and mental issues that's....lovely."
Erin was a predator, that much he knew. She was there to feed. Howie had already given her an appetizer, and now she looked to Avaris for more. To save her, he could allow his feelings to burst. Like unscrewing the cap to a shaken soda and allowing Erin to gorge upon them. However she might just feast on him and take Avaris for dessert. No. His emotions would stay capped for now. Howie was an expert at holding them down, he’d been doing it all his life. His left hand slid over to his right, allowing his thumb to gently rest on his wrist, feeling the pulse running through it. He breathed slowly, but deep, using this exercise to to calm himself. Howie would starve her. Hoping that this would make her redouble her efforts towards him.
“Don’t mind her, she’s just being silly.” He would say to Avaris in a slightly subdued tone. “My name’s Howard by the way, but call me Howie.” His eyes would drift back to Erin, a blank glaze over them.
OOC: Sorry about that. I got the posting order mixed up and thought it was Avaris’ go. I’ll make sure to pay more attention going forward.
A Brilliant Mind and a Hollow Heart
OC:
No problem. I get distracted easily. I did not expect to get Headmaster last week and it threw me off my game doing some ACP repair on Solomon. Seriously, DM me if I am being derelict.
IC:
It was her a obsession... no, addiction. To feel something in this terrible and shallow black pit. There was not fear, no pain, no hurt. To some this would be a respite, but there was nothing and there never could be anything. The yearning to know bliss would be like having the desire to smell colors, an inconceivable notion to one that has not known love or affection but knows of them. And knows how often they are a lie, how hollow people truly are. And how... full of substance some truly were.
She took in a shuddering breath as she felt his rage. It was red and full of heat and it burned in the pit of her stomach. It made her body tense and there was something in the back of her throat, an unreleased growl that was repressed by nothing more than her will. He hated her and if she could love something, she would love this.
"Someone real among the paper dolls," she announced in a low voice that seemed to come from the depths of her throat.
"So you're saying is his type is long dyed hair and mental issues that's....lovely."
Erin looked over at her, the girl with the white hair. Lovely thing truly, in a few years she might consider if girls were her flavor. It was hard to tell at her age and without sentiment, not only was there a lack of love but also lust. Still, she could appreciate her ghostly form as an artist would admire their sculpture made of found glass bottles in some new-age "museum" run by a pair of millennial in an old warehouse.
She looked over at Howard and nodded her head in agreement, "yeah that sounds about right." She took a breath, "shame you are hollow. Sentiment carried on gossamer wings with no weight... no soul."
She almost vomited when the first wave passed, the storm inside Howard was something that he had likely often experienced. Unlike Erin who felt often one strong emotion at a time, not this whirlwind. She did not understand most of them, there was never a sense of longing felt but she knew resentment and sadness well. She was an accomplished practitioner of both.
“Don’t mind her, she’s just being silly.”
Howard claimed.
“My name’s Howard by the way, but call me Howie.”
And the tide would ebb, hurricane Howard was returning to sea. But he was right, his emotional abundance was attracting her like a moth to a flame. Her eyes darted towards the girl, what had that girl done to calm him down. How did she make him stop. Why would she make him stop!
Did he know something? Was he up to something? Why was he being so dam polite? Fuck it. "Well, if he is not into it..." frigging Merlin "I am." She suggested as appraised the girl. She looked like Casper's malnourished little sister but there was a difference between the words that went through her head and those that came out her mouth.
With a shooing motion she would motion Howard to go someplace else, like another car or heck the seat across the way to gawk. She was going to get a reaction out of him again or something from this empty girl. "I am going to make out with her or something," she claimed. It was of course a lie. she was only twelve with the social understanding of someone well beyond her years but the experience of an isolated youth. She was just seeking the awkward reaction, the anger or the indignation. Hell, even rejection or revulsion. She gave no craps, she was starving and Howard was nothing but an emotional tease.
No problem. I get distracted easily. I did not expect to get Headmaster last week and it threw me off my game doing some ACP repair on Solomon. Seriously, DM me if I am being derelict.
IC:
It was her a obsession... no, addiction. To feel something in this terrible and shallow black pit. There was not fear, no pain, no hurt. To some this would be a respite, but there was nothing and there never could be anything. The yearning to know bliss would be like having the desire to smell colors, an inconceivable notion to one that has not known love or affection but knows of them. And knows how often they are a lie, how hollow people truly are. And how... full of substance some truly were.
She took in a shuddering breath as she felt his rage. It was red and full of heat and it burned in the pit of her stomach. It made her body tense and there was something in the back of her throat, an unreleased growl that was repressed by nothing more than her will. He hated her and if she could love something, she would love this.
"Someone real among the paper dolls," she announced in a low voice that seemed to come from the depths of her throat.
"So you're saying is his type is long dyed hair and mental issues that's....lovely."
Erin looked over at her, the girl with the white hair. Lovely thing truly, in a few years she might consider if girls were her flavor. It was hard to tell at her age and without sentiment, not only was there a lack of love but also lust. Still, she could appreciate her ghostly form as an artist would admire their sculpture made of found glass bottles in some new-age "museum" run by a pair of millennial in an old warehouse.
She looked over at Howard and nodded her head in agreement, "yeah that sounds about right." She took a breath, "shame you are hollow. Sentiment carried on gossamer wings with no weight... no soul."
She almost vomited when the first wave passed, the storm inside Howard was something that he had likely often experienced. Unlike Erin who felt often one strong emotion at a time, not this whirlwind. She did not understand most of them, there was never a sense of longing felt but she knew resentment and sadness well. She was an accomplished practitioner of both.
“Don’t mind her, she’s just being silly.”
Howard claimed.
“My name’s Howard by the way, but call me Howie.”
And the tide would ebb, hurricane Howard was returning to sea. But he was right, his emotional abundance was attracting her like a moth to a flame. Her eyes darted towards the girl, what had that girl done to calm him down. How did she make him stop. Why would she make him stop!
Did he know something? Was he up to something? Why was he being so dam polite? Fuck it. "Well, if he is not into it..." frigging Merlin "I am." She suggested as appraised the girl. She looked like Casper's malnourished little sister but there was a difference between the words that went through her head and those that came out her mouth.
With a shooing motion she would motion Howard to go someplace else, like another car or heck the seat across the way to gawk. She was going to get a reaction out of him again or something from this empty girl. "I am going to make out with her or something," she claimed. It was of course a lie. she was only twelve with the social understanding of someone well beyond her years but the experience of an isolated youth. She was just seeking the awkward reaction, the anger or the indignation. Hell, even rejection or revulsion. She gave no craps, she was starving and Howard was nothing but an emotional tease.
Just a trick of the lighting they said...