Roleplaying as Casey Stone from Ilvermorny

September 2nd 2024
Speech: Bold #257379
Thoughts: Bold Italics
Tryna Be Social with Kaya Rose Bennett @Linda Ramirez

"Oh really?" That was actually quite interesting to note. Kaya always kind of gave off as the outdoorsy kind from the get-go. The confirmation of her fondness for sport and photography outside confirmed it as well. Though Casey never expected her to be swayed by the indoors quite so easily. Then again, for all that he's uncovered at Ilvermorny so far - which wasn't very much at all in the grand scheme of things - Casey could understand the intrigue.

Ultimately however, Casey would pick the outdoors a thousand times over no matter what mysteries the school could offer him, even if it was the most magnificent thing being waved in front of his face.

"Nah, I don't think I could do that, that whole indoors thing. I grew up playin' about in mountains and hills, all that jazz. Maybe I'm too accustomed to it by now, but other than when I'm meant to be inside, like meals and classes for example, I don't think I could put up with bein' indoors for longer than necessary. It may as well be a form of cabin fever for me otherwise."

The mentioning of Kaya's brother brought back an all too familiar feeling in Casey. A blend of many in fact. Envy. Anger. Disappointment. Kaya had her brother. Casey did have his but then he went and vanished without a lick of explanation. Even after all this time it was hard to get used to. Thinking about him usually got him riled up because of how perfect everything was before his disappearance perpetually changed everything after that.

Casey kept up the energy of the conversation in spite of what he felt bubbling in his chest however. "Y-yeah. My brother was-- is like that too. He comes up with wacky ideas for games yet simultaneously worries about me, even though he drags me into them all the time, every time. Sometimes I think he forgets that I'm younger than him... It's the only thing I can think of where he gets it from."

Once Casey paused for a breath, the sensation in his chest finally fizzled away. He exhaled a breath he didn't realise he was holding onto yet it felt good to let it go. It made focusing on the rest of the conversation much easier as Kaya kept it going.

"A favourite place for hikin'... Well... I gotta say the Oregon mountains. I live not too far from them. They've got nice views, trails that are perfect for any weather... They were practically my playground when the playparks were too busy..." He smiled at the nostalgia.

"Likewise... Got any places that you have as your muse for photography? Assuming you've seen more than Oregon landscapes, that is."

_{Word Count: 498}

Stats: Stamina: 8|Strength: 7|Evasion: 7|Wisdom: 6|Arc Power: 6|Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Fearless |Poison Resistance

Roleplaying as Casey Stone from Ilvermorny

September 2nd 2024
Speech: Bold #257379
Thoughts: Bold Italics
Tryna Be Social with Kaya Rose Bennett @Linda Ramirez

Casey reclined further back onto the grass as he listened to Kaya talk, propping his head up with his hand that raised him up with leverage from his elbow. "Toronto eh? Sheesh... Talk about walkin' a thousand miles. That's near the other side of the country."

So Kaya was a Canadian gal. "Home of the maple leaves and syrup," Casey mused quietly, joking a little on that last part. "Can't say I've been that far down before. Always wanted to though. Apparently Canada's nice in the winter with the snow and all."

Casey would need both his fingers and toes to cover even a third of the states and overseas holidays him and his parents took ever since he was small. Road trips - or rather, broom trips - were the norm with camping holidays slotted in between long journeys. In a way, that kind of thing was more like a second way of living for Casey than a trip abroad due to how often he and the family travel. At the same time however, that didn't mean Casey didn't enjoy it. In fact, if anyone ever called him a mountain man, he'd welcome the nickname like it was always a part of him.

"Well if you ever want a mountain or two to climb, I've no shame in claimin' to be the go-to guy for recommendations," he said after her. "I know I said the mountains in Oregon have been my playground growin' up but I find it's like that with a whole lot of the other ones I've seen before. The California Coast Mountains are nice, huge and widespread with a lot of greenery. Then there's the Adirondack Mountains in New York. My dad really likes there and for good reason. You'll be guaranteed to find a lot of waterfalls up there. Dad spent a whole afternoon chilling beside one on a holiday we took years ago, the old goof."

Honestly, the list could go on. Casey had to reel it in a bit before he got too carried away. "Huh... Now that I think about it, I've spent a lot of holidays in mountains than barely anywhere else over the years..."

_{Word Count: 406}

Stats: Stamina: 8|Strength: 7|Evasion: 7|Wisdom: 6|Arc Power: 6|Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Fearless |Poison Resistance

Roleplaying as Casey Stone from Ilvermorny

September 2nd 2024
Speech: Bold #257379
Thoughts: Bold Italics
Tryna Be Social with Kaya Rose Bennett @Linda Ramirez

"A bouquet of maple leaves?" Casey asked, though more dumbfounded than critical of the notion. In the end he laughed. "I'll tell my dad about that. It'll be a good anniversary gift for him to give to mom when the time comes... If not, unique."

Casey would only imagine his adorably goofy old man handing over a bundle of maple leaves to the love of his life. She'd definitely be perplexed over why she was given leaves and not flowers per se, but she would warm up to it and embrace him all the same. No matter what though, their love life was the same self-fulfilling prophecy, one of hugs and kisses.

"If going beyond mountains means getting myself a hand on those maple bouquets then I'd definitely visit Canada if my folks and I got the chance." Casey laid back flat on the ground to give his arm and elbow a rest. "Then again, I've always wanted to see places with the longest river channels. I've always liked mountains that had those spindly rivers around them. Kinda like those mountain roads that pass through huge mountain ranges."

Jesus... I really love mountains huh...

Casey cleared his throat as if that would stop his mountain rants. "I uh... Also like old buildings. I know I probably don't look or sound it but things like castles and museums kinda interest me too. Notre Dame and those hanging houses in Cuenca have been on my bucket list for years."

That was the historian trace he inherited from his mother and her fascination for Muggles. "Gotta be honest... I find Muggle stuff interesting."

_{Word Count: 312}

Stats: Stamina: 8|Strength: 7|Evasion: 7|Wisdom: 6|Arc Power: 6|Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Fearless |Poison Resistance

Roleplaying as Casey Stone from Ilvermorny

September 2nd 2024
Speech: Bold #257379
Thoughts: Bold Italics
Tryna Be Social with Kaya Rose Bennett @Linda Ramirez

Casey shared another laugh with her before the conversation continued at a comfortable pace. He no longer felt like the air was awkward or forced but instead soft and gentle like a stream. It was still an odd feeling to feel so at ease in a conversation like this but he wasn't going to dispute that something about it felt natural anyhow. It felt good if he hadn't realised it already.

Casey followed on from Kaya's side of their chat. "Switzerland... Yeah I could see myself there one day. And not just for the mountains," he smirked. "It seems peaceful there. Not just there but other places like it. I've always toggled with the idea of living out in a field after I graduated. I might even take skiing lessons up one of those mountains. Never done it before... Though I'm curious to try."

He scratched the side of his head with his nail now that his train of thought ran with Muggle ideas. "Muggles aren't so bad. They're just..." He made an indescribable gesture with his hands. "Different. They're cool but different. I've a friend who's Muggle-born but even she has lost me a couple times in some of the letters we've sent each other. Like last week I sent her one asking what the heck a DVD was..."

A digital versa-- huh?? What was digital? What exactly was versatile? What were they when they were put together?? Even after she explained it to her in clear detail he still felt a bit clueless. And that barely scratched the surface of the other weird relics she's had to explain to him.

However none of the obvious confusions that spurred from his Wizard-born background swayed from his sincere intrigue over Muggle life.

"My mom once said to me that Muggles use magic but more in the old-fashioned science sense... Like science. And honestly, she couldn't have put it better. They aren't too farfetched... Just a bit back to front from us I think."

_{Word Count: 376}

Stats: Stamina: 8|Strength: 7|Evasion: 7|Wisdom: 6|Arc Power: 6|Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Fearless |Poison Resistance

Roleplaying as Casey Stone from Ilvermorny

September 2nd 2024
Speech: Bold #257379
Thoughts: Bold Italics
Tryna Be Social with Kaya Rose Bennett @Linda Ramirez

"I'm kinda glad I learnt a little bit of geography growin' up," Casey said as the two of them continued talking. "I know we learn a few bits and pieces about the world, countries and all that, but it's not like we ever go into great big detail. Like, no one in class ever talks an awful lot about Muggle culture in countries like Japan or Russia or somethin'. Not unless we hear it from actual Muggle students. Maybe I'm bein' complainy and picky, but I wanna know more than just motorcycles and rubber ducks."

Of course that was probably a big ask for a school that centralised on magic above anything else. The Wizarding World was exactly as it said in its title; Muggle business and its relics were only really humour and sometimes inspiration. Other than that, unless magic came flying off them, wizards would have very little to do with them.

"Mom is just great at what she does," Casey added, taking a small hint of pride in himself for having what he thought was the coolest mother in all the world. "She's like a curious kid when it comes to her work as a Muggle expert. It's hard to kinda brush off the energy she radiates." It was just a pity that not everyone harboured the same amount of energy she delivers when it came to Muggles.

Rudi could've learnt a thing or two...

The clouds shifted and there was a small pang of cold in the air, a shadow of shade slowly threatening its way towards the pair as they continued talking. Casey felt the heat of the sunshine lift a bit from his arms, making a hair or two stand up.

"Whoa... Day's passin' fast."

_{Word Count: 333}

Stats: Stamina: 8|Strength: 7|Evasion: 7|Wisdom: 6|Arc Power: 6|Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Fearless |Poison Resistance