Trip To Hogwarts
"Glad to know that, Astra. Mine is Sylvia Nightingale."
Astra thanks her stars for the nice, polite response to her awkwardness. More often than not she would be ridiculed for this back at the Muggle primary school her mother had her attend. "Nice to meet you, Sylvia," she responds in her quiet voice. She wants to ask Sylvia about her book, but recent happenings keep her from opening her mouth again.
Astra glances over at the other girl in the compartment, the one with the cat. She's reading a book as well. A compartment full of introverts... what are the odds? Low, I would guess, but then again they could be rather high in a certain demographic. Astra absentmindedly taps her fingers on the book's cover, studying the dark hair and intense eyes of the person across the compartment. This other girl looks a lot more... uptight than Sylvia, Astra muses. No, that's not the right word. She looks like someone who could make a whole room look with just one word. Impressive is the word you're looking for, you dunderhead. Astra focuses her gaze out the window, watching the scenery change as the Hogwarts Express gets underway.
@Sylvia Nightingale@Atalya Shoran
Astra thanks her stars for the nice, polite response to her awkwardness. More often than not she would be ridiculed for this back at the Muggle primary school her mother had her attend. "Nice to meet you, Sylvia," she responds in her quiet voice. She wants to ask Sylvia about her book, but recent happenings keep her from opening her mouth again.
Astra glances over at the other girl in the compartment, the one with the cat. She's reading a book as well. A compartment full of introverts... what are the odds? Low, I would guess, but then again they could be rather high in a certain demographic. Astra absentmindedly taps her fingers on the book's cover, studying the dark hair and intense eyes of the person across the compartment. This other girl looks a lot more... uptight than Sylvia, Astra muses. No, that's not the right word. She looks like someone who could make a whole room look with just one word. Impressive is the word you're looking for, you dunderhead. Astra focuses her gaze out the window, watching the scenery change as the Hogwarts Express gets underway.
@Sylvia Nightingale@Atalya Shoran
Last edited by Astra Norrick on 24 Aug 2023, 17:43, edited 1 time in total.
Trip To Hogwarts
Noticing that Astra keeps on eyeing the book in her hands, Sylvia lowered her head to check it all over again completely, but failed to find what’s catching the girl’s attention. Turning her focus to the book Astra is reading instead, Sylvia saw that it actually came from the same author. So that’s why she seems so curious about my book.
Furrowing her brow slightly, Sylvia tried to recall whether she had seen this other before back at her family library. Finding the cover slightly familiar, a memory suddenly came to her. A normal day during last year’s summer, she was sitting by the edge of a brook, planning to give this book a try. However, a squirrel sprinted by at that second, causing her to accidentally drop the book by surprise into the water. The rapid current quickly brought it downstream, and that book was never seen again.
Since she never got the chance to read that book, feeling rather sorry for herself, she pondered whether or not she should ask to borrow Astra’s book for a few days. Eventually deciding that she doesn’t really want to ask for a favor from someone she just met, at least for now, Sylvia turned her gaze towards the changing view outside the Hogwarts Express. How long is it still going to take for us to reach Hogwarts? She wondered silently.Interacting with @Atalya Shoran & @Astra Norrick
Dreams make good stories. But everything important happens when we're awake.
Trip To Hogwarts
Within ten minutes, Astra had read roughly sixty pages of the dense historical fiction. The plot was moving along quite nicely, but Astra was starting to get motion sick. She stared out the window behind Sylvia's head. The other two girls were still absorbed in their reading, though Astra thought she saw Sylvia glance at her every once in a while. Made a real fool of myself with introductions, didn't I? she thought, grimacing at the memory.
The cat, sitting across the compartment from Astra, purred in it's sleep. The rocking motion of the train seemed to be soothing to it. It was a very pretty cat, Astra thought, with its sleek body and shining fur. She wished her family had something like that, but all they had was an old owl named Novem who could barely fly anymore. Dad said he was purebred or something, coming from a line of noble owls.
Astra shifted her spot, stretching a little. Merlin's beard, she was tired. She and Roderick had stayed up almost all night in anticipation. If only I could sleep during the day. She wanted to get to know these girls a bit better, all of them seeming so similar already, but was nervous to break the silence after what happened last time.
She took out her wand and examined it. Almost 34 centimeters in length and made from holly, it had been the fifth wand Mr. Ollivander had given her. It seemed that wands could be very picky. He said the core of the wand was made of a Phoenix feather. She would have to owl Aunt Seren when they got to Hogwarts. She had gotten a Phoenix wand, too.
She glanced up to find Sylvia also looking up. The girls held eye contact for a moment before Astra returned her attention to the oh-so-interesting floor.
"Would you like anything from the cart, dears?" came the voice of an elderly woman from behind Astra. She turned to find a cart stacked full of sweets had stopped right outside their compartment.
"No thank you, ma'am," Astra said. She wasn't sure she could keep anything down with the excitement and nervousness tying knots in her stomach.
@Sylvia Nightingale & @Atalya Shoran
The cat, sitting across the compartment from Astra, purred in it's sleep. The rocking motion of the train seemed to be soothing to it. It was a very pretty cat, Astra thought, with its sleek body and shining fur. She wished her family had something like that, but all they had was an old owl named Novem who could barely fly anymore. Dad said he was purebred or something, coming from a line of noble owls.
Astra shifted her spot, stretching a little. Merlin's beard, she was tired. She and Roderick had stayed up almost all night in anticipation. If only I could sleep during the day. She wanted to get to know these girls a bit better, all of them seeming so similar already, but was nervous to break the silence after what happened last time.
She took out her wand and examined it. Almost 34 centimeters in length and made from holly, it had been the fifth wand Mr. Ollivander had given her. It seemed that wands could be very picky. He said the core of the wand was made of a Phoenix feather. She would have to owl Aunt Seren when they got to Hogwarts. She had gotten a Phoenix wand, too.
She glanced up to find Sylvia also looking up. The girls held eye contact for a moment before Astra returned her attention to the oh-so-interesting floor.
"Would you like anything from the cart, dears?" came the voice of an elderly woman from behind Astra. She turned to find a cart stacked full of sweets had stopped right outside their compartment.
"No thank you, ma'am," Astra said. She wasn't sure she could keep anything down with the excitement and nervousness tying knots in her stomach.
@Sylvia Nightingale & @Atalya Shoran
Last edited by Astra Norrick on 14 Sep 2023, 04:02, edited 1 time in total.
Trip To Hogwarts
"I'd like a package of Every Flavored Beans, please," Sylvia says. Astra grimaces at the box, many memories coming to the front of her mind. Most of these involved Roderick's mocking laugh and Astra drinking gallons of water or juice to wash a taste out of her mouth.
"I've never had much luck with those," Astra says with a nod to the beans. "I've gotten two vomit flavored ones in a single go." Sylvia gives her a strange look, so Astra hurriedly adds, "My older brother usually brings them home from Hogwarts, and sometimes my dad gets them."
Sylvia holds up a bean, examining the color. Astra squints. "I could be mistaken, but that one looks like either a toothpaste or peppermint flavor. But it could also be soap." Oh dear, I'm being annoying aren't I? Too late now, the words are out and I can't take them back. "It can't go too badly with those flavors. The ones I don't recommend taking a chance on are the reds, oranges, yellows, greens, or browns. Oh, blacks are usually black licorice, so that's not ideal. You should be good with blues, purples, whites, and pinks. Never touch the grays, though. Almost always dirty dishwater or soot." There, I've finished my piece. Hopefully I don't seem too weird... Nevermind, too late for that. How come I only ever think of these things after I've made a mockery of myself?
She carefully watches for Sylvia's reaction to all this out of the corner of her eye.
@Sylvia Nightingale @ Atalya Shoran
"I've never had much luck with those," Astra says with a nod to the beans. "I've gotten two vomit flavored ones in a single go." Sylvia gives her a strange look, so Astra hurriedly adds, "My older brother usually brings them home from Hogwarts, and sometimes my dad gets them."
Sylvia holds up a bean, examining the color. Astra squints. "I could be mistaken, but that one looks like either a toothpaste or peppermint flavor. But it could also be soap." Oh dear, I'm being annoying aren't I? Too late now, the words are out and I can't take them back. "It can't go too badly with those flavors. The ones I don't recommend taking a chance on are the reds, oranges, yellows, greens, or browns. Oh, blacks are usually black licorice, so that's not ideal. You should be good with blues, purples, whites, and pinks. Never touch the grays, though. Almost always dirty dishwater or soot." There, I've finished my piece. Hopefully I don't seem too weird... Nevermind, too late for that. How come I only ever think of these things after I've made a mockery of myself?
She carefully watches for Sylvia's reaction to all this out of the corner of her eye.
@Sylvia Nightingale @ Atalya Shoran
Trip To Hogwarts
While she was reading the words written on the packaging, Sylvia heard Astra spoke, directing addressing the Every Flavored Beans in her hand. “I've never had much luck with those,"I've gotten two vomit flavored ones in a single go.” So, there’s a “vomit” flavor? That’s good to know… Furrowing her brow slightly, Sylvia is now unsure whether she should even open the box at all.
Hearing Astra mention where she used to get it from, Sylvia deduced that she must have been at least a half blood, or else the odds are too little for both her and her brother to be in Hogwarts. Since her family’s mansion is situated in such an isolated area, Sylvia can’t actually blame her parents for not giving her the chance to taste some popular wizard food.
Before she had a chance to possibly ask about the girl’s family (whether she is a pure blood or half blood), Astra spoke again, offering some guesses on the bean which Sylvia is currently holding. “I could be mistaken, but that one looks like either a toothpaste or peppermint flavor. But it could also be soap.”
Noticing the girl’s interest in explaining about the beans, Sylvia supposed that Astra probably just takes a while to open up, unlike herself and Atalya, who seems to dislike unnecessary socializing most of the times. Deciding that she couldn’t remain silent forever, she finally made up her mind to say something in return, though keeping her reply as brief as possible. “What’s your favorite flavor? Any recommendations, perhaps?”
Taking Astra’s previous color suggestion, she threw a blue colored bean into her mouth, relieved to find out that it’s only a blueberry flavored one, instead of anything strange.Interacting with @Atalya Shoran & @Astra Norrick
Dreams make good stories. But everything important happens when we're awake.
Trip To Hogwarts
"What's your favorite flavor? Any recommendations, perhaps?" Sylvia asks. Astra's eyes widen. She didn't expect to elicit a response, much less one where her opinion was involved.
She noticed Sylvia looking expectantly at her. "Oh, sorry. I'm not entirely-" No, don't overshare, she won't want to know all of that. You've already embarrassed yourself enough as is."-I'm not entirely sure I have a favorite. I once got a cherry bean and a lemon bean stuck together. That was pretty good."
She waited a second before saying, "Forgive me for talking so much... I'm not really used to silence and it tends to make me nervous." Yeah, because that means you can't ignore yourself. She tries to quiet the part of her mind screaming things at her, things she's only been called one or two times but that constantly replay. Messed it all up again, didn't I? "I hope you don't get any bad flavors."
Well, they're true introverts. I guess I'm just too used to noise. Gotta learn to live with the silence. Astra wished there was a piano nearby. Her fingers twitched, tapping out a melody on the cover of her book. She usually ran to the piano anytime she was nervous, anytime her parents argued or something particularly bad had happened at school. Why oh why don't they allow MP3s? She would kill just to listen to something right now, anything, it doesn't even have to be a song she likes.
A random thought pops into her head. Time turners are weird. They're good for being in multiple places at once, but not for going back and erasing something stupid since you don't want to meet your past self. She almost lets this thought out of her mind and into her mouth, but cuts herself off just in time. No need. If they want conversation, they'll make it themselves. You've made enough of a fool of yourself as it stands. She sighs internally, remembering how her brother had made a friend before he even got to Platform 9 3/4, without awkwardness or embarrassment and he's a ruddy introvert too! You just don't get people, Asa. You can barely understand yourself. How are you supposed to undertand others?
@Sylvia Nightingale @Atalya Shoran
She noticed Sylvia looking expectantly at her. "Oh, sorry. I'm not entirely-" No, don't overshare, she won't want to know all of that. You've already embarrassed yourself enough as is."-I'm not entirely sure I have a favorite. I once got a cherry bean and a lemon bean stuck together. That was pretty good."
She waited a second before saying, "Forgive me for talking so much... I'm not really used to silence and it tends to make me nervous." Yeah, because that means you can't ignore yourself. She tries to quiet the part of her mind screaming things at her, things she's only been called one or two times but that constantly replay. Messed it all up again, didn't I? "I hope you don't get any bad flavors."
Well, they're true introverts. I guess I'm just too used to noise. Gotta learn to live with the silence. Astra wished there was a piano nearby. Her fingers twitched, tapping out a melody on the cover of her book. She usually ran to the piano anytime she was nervous, anytime her parents argued or something particularly bad had happened at school. Why oh why don't they allow MP3s? She would kill just to listen to something right now, anything, it doesn't even have to be a song she likes.
A random thought pops into her head. Time turners are weird. They're good for being in multiple places at once, but not for going back and erasing something stupid since you don't want to meet your past self. She almost lets this thought out of her mind and into her mouth, but cuts herself off just in time. No need. If they want conversation, they'll make it themselves. You've made enough of a fool of yourself as it stands. She sighs internally, remembering how her brother had made a friend before he even got to Platform 9 3/4, without awkwardness or embarrassment and he's a ruddy introvert too! You just don't get people, Asa. You can barely understand yourself. How are you supposed to undertand others?
@Sylvia Nightingale @Atalya Shoran
Trip To Hogwarts
Astra seemed rather taken back by her question, since she probably wasn’t expecting Sylvia to ask her anything in return. “Oh, sorry. I'm not entirely sure I have a favorite. I once got a cherry bean and a lemon bean stuck together. That was pretty good.” Guess I could take that as her favorite flavors are cherry and lemon? Or perhaps she was simply saying that those two beans taste good together? Not sure exactly what the girl meant, she thanked her anyway: “Alright, I suppose I’ll give them a try. Thanks for your opinion.”
Fumbling through all the beans, Sylvia finally managed to spot a yellow one among all the rest. Assuming that it might be a lemon flavored one, she took it out and was about to swallow it down when Astra spoke again, apologizing this time: “Forgive me for talking so much... I'm not really used to silence and it tends to make me nervous.”
Sylvia almost laughed at Astra’s words. Why would anyone apologize when they haven’t even said anything wrong? “Don’t worry, most people I know take silence as awkwardness, actually.” Wondering whether she had implied that she herself felt quite comfortable with silence in her previous reply, Sylvia decided to wait and see the girl’s expression.
Taking a bite out of the yellow bean, Sylvia almost felt like vomiting. Whatever this flavor is, it definitely is not lemon! Almost ironically, Astra added at that moment: “I hope you don't get any bad flavors.” Looking on the bright side, Sylvia supposed it also meant that she was quite good at hiding her thoughts. “Yeah, I hoped so too. Do you have any idea which yellow bean tastes terrible?”Interacting with @Atalya Shoran & @Astra Norrick
Dreams make good stories. But everything important happens when we're awake.
Trip To Hogwarts
Astra noticed a grimace come upon Sylvia's face as she bit down on the yellow bean. "Yeah, I hoped so, too," she said, her voice sounding strained. "Do you have any idea which yellow bean tastes terrible?"
"Already eating the bad ones?" Astra remarked with a joking tone. She thought for a moment before saying, "I've heard of Bogey and Earwax, and I think those are the worst yellows you can get. Vomit can be a yellow shade, though." She gives Sylvia a look of sympathy, having been in that predicament several times before. "Do you want me to see if I can find you a good one?"
Before she could get an answer, a knock came at the compartment door. Standing outside their only recently broken bubble of quiet was a girl with multicolored hair and some sort of earbuds in her ears. "Excuse me? May I come in?" she mouthed. Astra detected a defeated look in her eyes, as if this is the most recent compartment in a long line of many that she's tried. Astra glanced to Sylvia and her other compartment-mate. They had plenty of room but adding another person might sway the precarious balance between quiet and casual socializing the three had established. Well, the casual socializing you've forced upon them because you're a nervous wreck, but that's besides the point.
@Sylvia Nightingale@Atalya Shoran@Sonya Herrera
"Already eating the bad ones?" Astra remarked with a joking tone. She thought for a moment before saying, "I've heard of Bogey and Earwax, and I think those are the worst yellows you can get. Vomit can be a yellow shade, though." She gives Sylvia a look of sympathy, having been in that predicament several times before. "Do you want me to see if I can find you a good one?"
Before she could get an answer, a knock came at the compartment door. Standing outside their only recently broken bubble of quiet was a girl with multicolored hair and some sort of earbuds in her ears. "Excuse me? May I come in?" she mouthed. Astra detected a defeated look in her eyes, as if this is the most recent compartment in a long line of many that she's tried. Astra glanced to Sylvia and her other compartment-mate. They had plenty of room but adding another person might sway the precarious balance between quiet and casual socializing the three had established. Well, the casual socializing you've forced upon them because you're a nervous wreck, but that's besides the point.
@Sylvia Nightingale@Atalya Shoran@Sonya Herrera