Finished Screaming With Joy PV Ruth Fairchild

Date: January 10th

This was the stuff of dreams, imaginations he had had ever since he was a child but never really thought would manifest. The kind of laughter shared between them was contagious and wild and free and it made his heart fly towards the greatest heights imaginable. Keeled over he was desperately sucking in air whenever he could while gripping at his ribs that tickled so veraciously he was quite sure one might break. Laughter only amplified with the failed conjuring of her lighting charm, the entire thing was so ridiculous he simply could not contain his emotion letting it rip free into the chamber reverberating on every stone coating them in the ecstasy of his adrenaline and joy.

When she finally managed to cast the spell Ruth's face illuminated with a gentle glow that made her seem radiant in the darkness. A girl with light tear-stained cheeks and a smile that could swallow pain with ease. Within moments the passage had opened up large enough to stand and the light grew to accommodate showing a large passage ahead. With Ruth's silent instruction Matthew squeezed past her stopping to smile as he did utterly powerless to resist. These were the moments he had longed for an entire childhood, the friendships he had so longingly sought and he truly couldn't have been happier. It was exactly the medicine he had required after spending winter almost entirely alone.

Stood across from each other his eyebrows quirked in challenge as she raised her hand in a high-five only to pull it away with a devilish grin rivalling his own the second he went to strike. The resounding momentum took his hand into the wall but there was no pain he simply laughed rambunctiously once more and accepted the secondary as she raised her challenge once more. There was such softness between them and in the muted silence of the tunnel with soft light as their only companion he relished every second. Everything he had ever wanted and more.

Finally moving past with a wicked smile he curled his spine in a deep bow with an over dramatic arm flourish towards her, "Well of course Ruthy, I couldn't have a first year getting caught on my watch. No that simply would not do." Curling over further with softer laughter he fell into the wall slightly using it to push him forward again. When he was no longer facing her his face began to rosy slightly with his next statement hidden in the darkness, "You were great by the way." Despite his face being hidden from her the wide smile could be heard in his voice.

Corridor began to make way into staircase and looking up towards the abyss above he couldn't resist yelling out a "WOO!" that echoed its way up the spiral stonework. The boy simply couldn't contain the depth to his bursting joy, it was overwhelming but in a good way that he welcomed. Throwing his head back to watch the girl below he spoke with a real sincerity breaking through the good humour, "You know I think that was probably my favourite prank to date, I'm glad I got to spend it with you and look everything went to plan. Well that is to say there was no real plan but still it went, who knew the secret tunnel was real!" Betraying the revelation that he was relying on an unproven theory, he didn't waver from worry. Ruth knew he was a spontaneous wreck, plans were not his style and that only made it all the more fun.

With a more timid inflection to his voice he asked hopefully, "Did you have fun? You know bar the screaming little gremlins!"

Interacting with @Ruth Fairchild

—Little peace but loads of fun—
𝓜atthew was someone Ruth looked up to. He was sun and the sparkles of rain caught in sunlight, the beaming smile that was contagious. He was the source of laughter, the fun, the escapade from school work, doubts and dwellings. It was one of those times Ruth was proud to stand amongst purebloods and claim to be a muggle-born. For it was what had led to their strong bond, and she wouldn't have traded it for anything else. Maybe chocolates, she smirked to herself as she followed him under the dim light. She was joking, of course. Having him around was far better than chocolates.

Along the tunnel they went, their chuckles never ceasing, though they softened over time, catching their breaths as they fell into step with each other. Even Matthew had to take a break from laughing so much. Ruth's smile never waned from her face, though it lost some of its vibrancy when he uttered a compliment that sent a tickle in her tummy and cheeks. She scratched the back of her neck, bashful to have received such a statement. Then she shook her head, a wider grin taking over as she got beside him and gave him a playful nudge, "Oh, you." Before mumbling, "thanks," her voice quieter as she appreciated his comment with a momentary silence.

Continuing to shine their way, Ruth raised the wand above her head to glimpse the long-winded passageway widening, revealing a spiraling staircase that seemed to traverse upwards for ages. How pleasant, she thought to herself, though the foreshadowing exhaustion was quickly forgotten as Matthew let out a whoop beside her, making her jump in surprise. His voice vibrated up, bouncing about and around her, miniscule chimes following his. Ruth suppressed her laughter at the sight and was about to head up when he spoke breathlessly, almost like he always did.

"Well that is to say there was no real plan but still it went, who knew the secret tunnel was real!" Ruth barked out a laughter, then sucked in a breath, eyeing him almost comedically. "Say what?" Truth was, she had known the moment they had stepped foot into the greenhouse, only further justified when he started firing spells everywhere. It wasn't the first time, of course. He was very much an improv guy and Ruth was all for it. She never really was one to meticulously plan things out as well, making them quite the duo.

She waved a hand as if to dismiss his recklessness, then answered his much more somber question sarcastically, "Did I have fun? Well, do I have fingers?" she wiggled those that weren't grasping her wand, then shrugged. "Yes. Seems like I do. Anyways," she bounded for the stairs, skipping over the steps two at a time, "race you to the top!"

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Date: January 10th

With the insinuation of her competition Matt's smile only doubled taking on that wild quality it did when mischief was afoot. There were any number of spells he could have performed to stop the girl in her tracks but where was the fun in that, no, while she may have decided to start on a cheaters foot he would not follow her lead.

Like a rabid beast Matthew would drop to all fours using his hands and feet like springboards to launch himself up hands clambering against the smooth stone. Laughter once again filled the spiral echoing upwards while he shouted up after the girl "You Ruth Fairchild, are well quite frankly Ruth-less cheating like that." The devious nickname was so graciously lightened by the childish giggle of his tone. Though such pleasantries would have to be dismissed, after all, Matthew had a race to win and he didn't intend on failing.

Constantly chasing the flicker of light that climbed ahead of him, he caught up to the girl and with his golden flecked eyes sparkling in the light attempted to squeeze past her. Pushing her gently to the side as he merged his flesh with the stone he dragged his hands forward pulling at the next step so he might gain the advantage and make it through. Looking utterly ridiculous was an unfortunate consequence but as long as he proved that cheaters never prospered he would be content enough.

Managing to pull slightly ahead forcing his body through the incredibly narrow gap between wall and girl he began to cheer with excitement but just as he did the joyous yell instantly turned wobbly. As his hand reached for purchase of the next stair it suddenly fell flat slamming against the cold floor and taking his elbow with it that collided causing a rough echo likely to bring about a dark bruise. Matthew always seemed to be getting himself in bruising situations these days.

As he went to clutch the injured limb the bright light of Ruth's wand alleviated the darkness and revealed the end of their spiral imprisonment. The pair now stood, or lay in Matthew's case, in a larger antechamber with some kind of cut out hole from the stonework that seemed to be filled with a wooden covering. Due to his injury it took the quick witted Snake a minute to comprehend but eventually the pieces fell together and he realised he was looking at their exit. Many of the paintings were rumoured to hide passages and thus marked the wood as a frame. Melodramatically owing for sympathy he held out his good arm hopeful Ruthless wasn't ruthless enough to leave him sprawled out on the floor.

Looking up at the girl his eyes twitched at the brightness of her spell but turning his hurt expression into a smirk he spoke ladled with smugness, "What? It was worth it, I won!"

Interacting with @Ruth Fairchild

—Final Post—
𝕽unning up the stairs, close to stumbling and tripping all over the place, was a familiar sensation. The motion of nearly tripping every third step was familiar, reminding Ruth of her weekdays in Bath, racing against her little brother, Ace, up the steps of Bathwick Academy. Despite the age gap--and the even more obvious advantage--Ruth had never once stopped to consider letting Ace win. She was caught up in chasing after Aaron, the oldest of the three, legs burning in effort to meet his long strides. To at least win against him. Looking back, Ruth had to admit that it wasn't at all a fair competition. But it had been fun, nonetheless.

Would it have been more exciting if it had been a fair race? She didn't have the time to ponder the question.

Matthew bounded past her, elbows and knees flailing as he scrambled upward on all fours like a wolf. She raised her eyes and caught a glimpse of him just ahead. That wild grin and determined glint in his eye--for the briefest of seconds it was as if she had been transported back into the past, chasing Aaron again, her older brother shooting away whilst hunched forward. Unexpectedly, tears pricked at her eyes and she hurriedly blinked them away, leaving the overwhelming wave of emotions behind as she followed suit, though it was hard keeping up with someone climbing the stairs as he.

"Hold--Hold on!" Ruth sputtered, laughter spilling from her protest as she raised her wand high above her head to light the path ahead of them. Matthew, however, so caught up in the idea of victory, met an unfortunate ending just a few feet above her. The sound of collision that rebounded off the walls was enough to make her halt in her pursuit, the smile slipping off her face. Concerned, Ruth called out her friend's name, worry replaced amusement as she scrambled up the final flight of steps.

Only to find him sprawled on the floor like a ragdoll, clutching his arm.

"Matt," she chided almost instantly once she convinced herself that he was fine. She crouched down, grunting slightly as she made a grab for his offered arm and heaved him upright. She fussed at his clothes, tutting like a mother, then grasped onto the injured arm. Ruth shined the light down on his bruising elbow, holding onto the his wrist with uncharacteristic tenderness. Much to her dismay, the injury was worse than she had hoped for. The skin above his elbow had started to redden and swell, a dull purple tinge forming beneath the skin. "Seems like we'll have to pay the Hospital Wing a visit," Ruth told him, lips pressing into a thin line, "And no. You are going. I'll drag you there myself." She shot him a warning look, but her expression softened as a puff of air left her lungs in a soft laugh. "Honestly."

Looking away from Matthew, she turned toward the far wall, her attention snagging on the subtle change in texture—a rectangular patch where stone gave way to the back of a portrait. Still grasping Matthew's injured limb, she guided him towards the door and placed a finger on her lips, signaling him for silence. Placing an ear against the back of the frame, Ruth listened for any sign of life on the other side of the wall, then nodded at Matthew before easing it open.

A loud, high pitched creak sounded as Ruth's attempt to carefully pry the portrait open without making so much of a noise backfired and cringed, instinctively tightening her grip on Matthew before grasped what she had done, mumbling an apology as she quickly stepped out and gingerly tugged him along with her. It seemed to her as though they had stepped out onto the fifth floor corridor--Ruth could swear she glimpsed the Transfiguration classroom at the very end of the hallway. Judging by the time, Ruth doubted anyone would be around to catch them unless they were on patrol. As quick as they had gone out Ruth impetuously pushed the portrait back into place, then jumped. Timothy the Timid stared back down at them. "Oh, pardon us," She squeaked, then glanced at the nearby portrait, before looking back at Timothy. Not wanting to waste another second out in the open, Ruth bid the portrait farewell then proceeded to linger by Matthew's side again.

"A trip to the hospital wing." She declared, linking arms with him, partly to ensure he didn't escape, and partly because it felt right at the moment. Ruth hadn't had that much fun in a while.

"If the nurse asks, tell them you slipped on your ego trying to beat me."
End.

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