Errand Sweet Hearts

Paper rustled underhand, enveloped by a heavy drone of surrounding chatter and the scratching of quills. The wall opposite was familiar, but never in quite so much detail as uncharacteristically near to is as Evelynn found herself right now. But it wasn't the wall that held her attention in the moment. Instead, her eyes found themselves fixed to a stretch of blank parchment held in place with one hand, a quill poised in the other. How exactly she had gotten into this position, she couldn't recall. It wasn't uncommon lately to find herself ensnared by her own thoughts, her usually sharp perception of her surroundings enslaved instead by the distraction of memory. Every now and then, like now, she would find herself suddenly and acutely aware of the present moment, as though rousing from a walking slumber.

Students crowded in around her, seated at what was usually the Slytherin table in the Great Hall. Some were decorating cupcakes, others writing letters. Like what Evelynn had been about to do, it seemed. The why and the to whom, however, seemed to evade her in that moment. Lifting her gaze, she took a moment to glance around. Everywhere she looked, blushes dusting cheeks and bright smiles seemed to greet her. Many of her peers tittered amongst themselves as they worked.

A sudden wave of heat flashed through her, teeth clenching as brows knit together. Lip curling as she tore her eyes away from a particularly offensive display of camaraderie, Evelynn snatched up a nearby cupcake. The abandoned quill fell to the table with a fine spackle of ink where the tip had connected. For the next few minutes, she fixed her attention into smearing icing onto its domed top, her notably aggressive decorating style gradually ebbing with the progression of her task.

By the time she let the icing implement drop to the table, apparently indifferent to any mess it made on the table, she had settled a cheek into an open palm. Her lidded gaze fixed itself onto the baked item as she lazily prodded at its base with the forefinger of her free hand, slowly turning it first one way, then the other. There had been a moment when she had first started icing it where she wanted nothing more than to devour cupcake and toss the wrapper haphazardly to the side to hit whatever unfortunate soul happened to be in its line of projection. The hunger had dissipated.

Even the placing of a toothpick and pretending it was a candle did little to stoke her appetite. Instead, she just felt hollow. Today was February 11th. Her birthday. And not just any birthday, but her 16th birthday. She wasn't usually the sort to celebrate anniversaries of birth, but she'd been looking forward to celebrating this one. It was the year she could trade her moped for a car. When she wouldn't have to rely on her mother to visit the barn. Where adventure and exploration would be but a notion and a drive away. It was supposed to mean freedom. Now...

Lips pulled in over her teeth and pressed together. As the world seemed to take on a fuzzy filter, Evelynn flicked her fingers out, sending the cupcake tumbling away. It wasn't fair that she got to be another year older. Not when others wouldn't. She didn't deserve it.... Or maybe she did. Living is harder. Perhaps this was her punishment. Everyone around her seemed to disappear or find themselves hurt... or worse. It was like a curse. Sooner or later, her presence in their life would prove itself a detriment. She had let herself think that perhaps it wasn't true. That she could maintain connections. It had almost seemed like everything was fine. How deeply mistaken she was. How vast the void of that lesson.

But in this moment, the burden of solitude kept her pinned to the bench. Once more, she found herself staring at the blank parchment, and once more the quill found itself poised to write.

Iv--

Trembling smudged the surface, an ink blot growing with every second the quill kept its tip to parchment. With a soft flutter, it fell, dropped, to the table's surface. Hands lifts to press palms to forehead, fingers lacing loosely through the deep crimson curls that fell like a curtain to veil her face. She sat there like that, staring blankly at the two letters she'd managed to write. Evelynn couldn't even bring herself to write it. To pen the name. It wasn't as though to do so would change anything. It wouldn't as though to avoid doing so would make the situation any less real, or the pain any less poignant. She knew there would be no dramatic return, and that the stab of absence would be eternal. And yet, she still couldn't bring herself to spell it out.

Time became a flexible construct while she sat there in silent despair. Seconds ticked by, one after another, marching to the dirge of her own heart. For how long, who could say. By the time fingers finally found there way to poise the quill anew, many students had come and gone, fluid and everchanging, like waves upon stone.

I've missed you.

There. With an ambiguous start absent of address, it was easier to let the words flow. She allowed herself to continue without pause, putting whatever thoughts or notions came to mind on paper without regret. It wasn't going to be sent to anyone. How would it, when the addressee would be nigh on impossible to reach? Even then, it wasn't as though she was going to sign it.

I've missed you. I am not really entirely certain what to even write. You are gone, while I am yet here. I am sorry. I would never be able to say that enough, and yet I can not begin to say anything at all without expressing that. But it will never be enough.

It was my fault. All of it. It was mine. I did nothing at the time to prevent what happened, and could nothing but watch idly as you slipped away. I did not know what to do. I do now. I should never have let you take the fall. I should never have let us go along in the first place. Not there. Not where a step out of place could see a tumble and help could not be given.

I called. I did. So many times that my voice grew hoarse, but you never heard. I tried to seek help. I tried to find someone who could help you. Who could wake you up and bring you back to me. But they took too long. I waited. I prayed. I shed so many tears that I think I have none remaining. But all of it. None of it. It is all gone, and the fault is all mine. I am sorry.

I still see you in my dreams. Every night. Sometimes I find us sitting together, your hand in mine, looking out across the lake. Other times, we are simply studying together or playing quidditch. Most of the time, though, I am chasing you, calling your name and trying desperately to catch up as you disappear further into nothingness. And when I wake, I find nothing but that nothingness. I hate those visions, and yet I find comfort in them for at least in sleep, you are there.

I wish you were here. E--

She couldn't do it anymore. With a sudden grit of wood on stone, Evelynn pushed herself back from the table, glassy-eyed and graceless. Quill and letter were left abandoned where she'd sat, all but forgotten in her haste not to crack in front of her peers. Especially not here. Black robes fluttered in the wake of her retreat.

Interacting with : Reducio @Tracey Bailey

Outfit: Reducio Impeccable Slytherin uniform Hairstyle: link Self-made tulip earrings: link

Notes: Reducio Speech: #3CB371 Thoughts: italics

While Kaitlyn spent an abnormal amount of time on doubting herself, she never considered the possibility that anyone would want to give her a cupcake. And not just because of her normal spiel. Moreso because she didn’t think she did anything special to warrant receiving a cupcake. While she did her best to be a good friend to those that wanted to be friends with her, she didn’t see that as being worthy of receiving a cupcake. Besides, the friends she did have knew a bunch of other students at Hogworts. How was she better than them? Plus, there had to be some that actually knew how to carry a conversation, unlike her.

Regardless, Katie was happy. Happy to show that she first and formost cared about her friends. She considered Tracey her best friend. And she personally loved every interaction she had with Minnie. She liked talking to both of them, and felt the most comfortable around them.

Listening to Tracey, Kaitlyn nodded her head. She was glad that she wasn’t the only one have trouble. “I know. It’s had to just choose three when you have so many options. And I’ve only thought of two so far,” she pointed out. “Too bad we’re limited to just three. But, I guess it’ll be a good surprise for whomever we’re sending them to,” she responded, a bright smile on her face.

When Tracey mentioned about sending a cupcake to one of her housemates, Klynn, and admitted to having weird feelings around him, Kaitlyn’s mind recalled Minnie and their wonderful interactions so far. It made her wonder what Minnie thought of her. It was also a little surprising. When she was around Minnie, she tried her best not to wallow in self-pity around the Hufflepuff. It was truthfully an amazing site, at least in her opinion.

Kaitlyn let her mind fade back to the present, smiling to Tracey. “I’ve heard of him, but I haven’t spoken to him yet. It sounds like he’s special to you,” she whispered, dreamily. “Are you trying to hang around with him a lot?” She whispered. Considering the fact that she was just twelve years old, she didn’t understand the concept of having a crush yet. Or even what it would feel like. While she could readily admit that she liked girls, she couldn’t tell how to determine which girl(s) she liked. It was hard for her to tell, and she completely lacked the courage to come out and ask herself.

Considering the fact that Tracey whispered this detail to her, Kaitlyn had to wonder just how many people Tracey told yet. Since Tracey said she was her best friend, she doubted too many, if any, other people knew yet. To show her appreciation for being trusted, Kaitlyn smiled brightly to Tracey. “Thanks for telling me,” she whispered.

In the silence that fell between the girls, Kaitlyn took the time to draw a perfectly shaped heart in icing on both cupcakes. Strawberry shortcake for Tracey. Lemon for Minnie. She then began to slowly decorate the cupcakes.

Reducio

Note: 510 words

Interacting with : Reducio @Tracey Bailey

Outfit: Reducio Impeccable Slytherin uniform Hairstyle: link Self-made tulip earrings: link

Notes: Reducio Speech: #3CB371 Thoughts: italics

Kaitlyn likely looked like she was dissecting her cupcakes. She was applying multi-colored sprinkles to Tracey’s cupcake. Slowly building them around the cupcake to accentuate the heart she drew. Despite being a decoration, they made the heart look like it popped from the cupcake. She had a small pile of strawberries next to her to garnish Tracey’s cupcake. After that, she’d have to consider Minnie’s.

Looking up from her work of art, Kaitlyn giggled. “As a baker, I’d say these look divine. They must taste as delicious as they look,” she replied. She made a scene of looking around them, before lowering her voice. “I wouldn’t say anything if you did,” she whispered, a gleam appeared in her blue eyes. She could only imagine how cute Tiger would look eating a cupcake. It was probably a lovely site. “I think that’s awesome that he likes sweets,” she giggled.

At another lull, Kaitlyn took her time applying the fresh strawberries. She was able to make a heart out of the strawberries. They added a three-dimensional look to the heart, and made it pop even more. She was happy with how it turned out. She looked at the cupcake she was making for Minnie, her cheeks briefly turning red. ‘Ugh, I wish I had some of Minnie’s special candy hearts for this … Although, I don’t think I’d need them to make her happy,’ she thought. She took a few normal (sadly) candy hearts, applying them methodically to the cupcake.

Hearing Tracey’s response, Kaitlyn giggled. “That’s pretty awesome. I don’t know what it means, unfortunately. But, I think that’s good that you have someone special to hangout with. Maybe you can try to be partners with him in class? You are pretty smart, after all,” she responded, with a smile. Using her forearm, she pushed a stray piece of hair out of her face.

“I hope to find a girl one day that makes me happy,” Kailtyn said, dreamily. Her heart briefly stopped, when she uttered that. ‘Had I previously told Tracey that I liked girls? I can’t remember. Eh, it’s not like I was keeping it a secret, anyway,’ she thought, lowering her blue eyes back to Minnie’s cupcake, thinking of what else to add. It had to be special. She wanted it to be special.

Reducio

Note: 385 words

Charlie had seen a poster on one of the bulletin boards, advertising a fun event around Hogwarts. Lately she had been skipping things like this and instead heading straight for her dorm room to study, play with her cat, or just be alone, but this event actually seemed interesting. It was almost Valentine's Day, and normally that would have another reason for her to hide away in her room. She decided to make her way downstairs somewhat early, but still after the event had started, so that she could see if her friend Ava was there, but also miss some of the opening traffic.

Winding her way down a set of stairs, she wondered what would actually be happening at the event. She had heard something about cupcakes, which was exactly what she saw when she walked through the oversized door frame of the Great Hall. Her eyes immediately traveled to the Ravenclaw table, her table, and noticed that her usual spot at the table was covered in red, pink and white themed cupcake decorations. She peered around the room and found that the Slytherin table, one of her best friends tables, was covered in trays that were once stuffed full of cupcakes. The neat rows of cupcakes were picked from, students still grabbing from the classic flavors like vanilla, chocolate and even some unusual flavors like strawberry and rose. On the other half of the Slytherin table was an assortment of different icings. Charlie noticed that the other two tables, Griffyndor and Hufflepuff, were covered in every sort of art material one could think of. A variety of paints, pens, papers in every shade and weight, scissors, and even some glitter.

Charlie made her way over to the Slytherin table and grabbed four cupcakes before noticing that she was only supposed to have a maximum of three, so she had to make the executive decision to put back the perfectly pink strawberry cupcake. She made a swap of her pumpkin cupcake for a red velvet cupcake and marched her way over to the icing station. When she arrived, she went right for a pink and white swirl icing so it would be perfectly themed for Valentines day. Doing her best to pipe the icing on the red velvet cupcake, she piled it up into a slightly crooked swirl. Setting that cupcake aside, she grabbed the chocolate cupcake and some dark chocolate icing and made a similar swirl. This one was for herself, so she added less icing on the cupcake then she normally would, but still enough that it didn’t look weird. Her final cupcake’s frosting was definitely her best of the three. She piled pale pink icing on top of a vanilla cupcake, and carefully carried her cupcakes over to her favorite spot at the Ravenclaw table. Smiling, she grabbed red and pink heart shaped sprinkles and shook them over to the third cupcake she had frosted, and placed a glittery heart topper on the cupcake. Grabbing her very dark cupcake, she added blue and silver sprinkles to represent Ravenclaw. She didn’t really know why she made a Ravenclaw cupcake for herself, but she decided to go with it anyway because it was too late to undo it or even put it back. Charlie took her time picking out the final sprinkles for the final cupcake. She settled on a mix of gold bead shaped sprinkles and the classic red and white sprinkles. She found a pale pink heart shaped topper, and slid it in the icing.

As she was selecting her boxes, she had been distracted admiring other student’s cupcakes and had accidentally chosen a box that would fit one cupcake and another that would fit two cupcakes. She loaded the cupcakes in boxes, the red velvet cupcake with pale pink icing and gold sprinkles with a pale pink topper went in the box by itself and the other two cupcakes went in the box that fit two cupcakes. Charlie sat at the table staring at the box's label which wanted her to write who it was for. Without even thinking about it, She scribbled her best friend’s name on the box with the first marker she saw. In the from spot on the box, Charlie wrote Your BFF. She grabbed that box and went up and placed it on the staff table next to another box addressed to another student. Going back to her other box of cupcakes, she wrote her own name on the label, intending to take it with her when she left. She moved over to the closest stationary table and grabbed a random piece of pink construction paper. She traced a heart on the paper and cut it out with the scissors she found. In her tall, skinny, slanted handwriting she wrote,
Happy Valentine’s Day Ava! Hope you enjoy the cupcake!
-C

She folded the heart in half, with the message on the inside, and scribbled Ava’s name on the front. She wandered over to the front table and dropped her folded up heart on top of Ava’s cupcake box. On her way out she made sure to grab her own box of cupcakes that she made for herself. Happy Valentine’s Day, She thought to herself.

wc: 881

mentioning: @Ava Winchect

2/11/24

Tori began walking towards the Great Hall, where the scents were wafting. Today was that sacred cake decorating day and she was waiting for this moment. Today her hair was long dusty pink.

When he arrived at the Great Hall, he was truly mesmerized. On the Slytherin table, there were many heart-shaped cakes with different bases and colorful creams. On the Ravenclaw table, there were all kinds of decorations (including peanut butter and chocolate chips, Tori liked these two the most). On other tables, there were stationery items that he didn't understand why. Just as he was questioning these, she heard Potions Professor Meabh begin to speak. Now he understood why there were stationery. 'I wonder who I can do this to?'

She heard a girl asking for help. When she approached the girl, it was a dark brown haired girl who looked older than Tori. She smiled and started talking.

"Hello. My name is Victoria. But you can call her Tori for short. Nevermind. How can I help you? What kind of help do you want? "

Silence greeted her ears for quite a few minutes. The hall had grown more busy but it seemed everyone was on their own agenda or had met up with friends prior or in the Great Hall due to previous planning. She'd rest her chin in her hands, blowing her bangs out of her face in annoyance. That was until she got the jump scare of her life.

Victoria, or Tori as she referred to herself had greeted her and noticed her call for help. Immediately jumping to her feet she'd clap her hands together in excitement.

"Ah Tori you are truly a lifesaver! The name's Annie, and I don't have an ounce of creativity in more. Or well, I have ideas but don't want to mess anything up. Do you mind helping me decorate and then write cards to some of my classmates?" She'd tilt her head to the side waiting for an answer. Now, to choose the cupcakes. They were supposedly arranged on several plates in front of her. She'd slowly select one plate at a time, taking one cupcake off of each of them and bringing the cupcake to her nose to sniff them and identify them.

After stumbling upon a chocolate, red velvet, and vanilla cupcake, she was happy with her choices and snagged an extra plain chocolate cupcake for herself, popping a chunk of it in her mouth and chewing happily. A happy hum escaped her before it got replaced with a small frown and the twitch of her brows. Now it was time for decorating.

"Alright. Nothing too fancy maybe a simple swirl and some sprinkles. What flavors of icing do you think would go well with each of them. I only personally like cheesecake icing with carrot cake.." She'd tap her chin in deep concentration. This was a lot harder than she made it out to be. Ultimately the people she was giving them to would like them. Who doesn't like sweets.

And.. uh.. who was she going to give them to. Her mind went blank at the thought. A heavy silence filled the air before she decided on them.

"I hope you have good handwriting Tori." A small giggle escaped her as she popped the rest of the cupcake in her mouth, enjoying the savory chocolate that basically melted on her tongue. Even if the holiday was overrated, she couldn't argue with free excuses to be nice to people and of course, candy.

Mentions: @Victoria Lena Jones
Action: Decorating the cupcakes and deciding on who to address the letters to.
Word Count: 665/600

Date: Febuary 11 Location: Great Hall Interacting with: @

Mentions: Reducio @Harley Jukes, @Kaitlyn Connor, @Cassian Clarke

Outfit: Hairstyle: Cute thoughts: italics

Quinn wondered why she was forcing herself to do this. Did Cassian really like her anyway, and what about Declan? She had kissed him. What was she supposed to think about that? Quinn still had walked down to the great hall to make a cupcake for her sweet heart. Quinn made her way down the table to grab a cupcake for Cassian. Choose 3. Hmmmm. Quinn looked down the long line of choices. Well-Cotton Candy for sure. Neapolitan, annnnnnnd. Hmm. Quinn wondered what she should choose. "Hey! Quinn, wanna cupcake?" The voice had asked her. A young shy looking Declan was holding out a cupcake for a young Quinn during a valentines day party. "Sure, uhh..." Young Quinn was blanking on a name. "Declan." Young Declan responded. "Yeah. Anyway, sure! What flavor is it?" The Young Quinn had asked. "Guess!" Young Declan has said. "Hmmm. Red Velvet?" Young Quinn had asked. "Nope! It's Strawberry Shortcake, I made it just for you!" Young Declan exclaimed, then blushed as Young Quinn squealed. "Thanks Dec!" Then hugged him tight. Present Quinn had no recollection of this memory, until she had seen the strawberry shortcake cupcake. "Definitely that one." She said, accidently out loud. Quinn grabbed her cupcakes and set to decorating. Hmmm. Definitely one to Cassaian, maybe one to Kaitlyn, maybe one too... Her mind blanked on another person she could send it to. I kind of want to send it to another boy-but what other boys do I know. She wondered. Well I know Dennis but what would I say-Dear Dennis have a nice life, oh by the way I hate you. Quinn snickered. Suddenly her mind went to a boy helping her up off the ground while she danced. Harley. Quinn thought. Quinn squirted some white icing on the cotton candy cupcake. I'll give this one to Kaitlyn! Quinn thought. With skill that Quinn didn't really have she used some icing to shape ears and then more icing for whiskers making a bunny cupcake. Quinn finally thought it looked good so she picked up a quill and started writing. Dear Kait, I feel like I am writing another letter to you for quill pal's. But this time I want to wish you a happy valentines day! All the Love, Quinn Brook Quinn thought it looked good so she rolled it up and wrote "Kaitlyn Connor" on the paper. Onto the next cupcake. Quinn thought. Quinn grabbed the neapolitan one and some chocolate icing. She traced a dance shoe delicately on the cupcake. Hey Harley, How are you, it's Quinn here. Your "dancing" buddy. Remember when I bowled into you? Anyway, happy valentines day! I hope you have a good week! From, Quinn Brook Quinn sealed the letter writing Harley's name on it. Quinn then realized that she had saved Cassian for last. Quinn tentatively grabbed the strawberry shortcake cupcake and grabbed some pink icing and little sprinkles shaped like hearts. Quinn carefully traced a heart with the icing and then sprinkled the heart sprinkles on. The cupcake looked cute, but not overly attention seeking. Quinn smiled at it. Then she realized she had to write something. Something to Cassian. Dear Cassian, She began. I wish we could be spending more time together, and I wanted to say ;m sorry. Sorry for not kissing you, sorry for leaving without saying why, sorry for not really talking to you after break. Also I wanted to say that I love you. I just hope that this valentines day you can love me too. Happy Valentine's day, I hope we see each other soon! (Hopefully) Your Valentine, Quinn. Quinn looked at the letter for a long time before writing My Sweetheart, Cassian. On the paper. She rolled it up, tied it with a bow, and stuck it on the cupcake. I hope he likes it. Quinn thought. Or this may be the worst valentine's day ever.

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738/600

Coding by @Estelle Nyx

WC 1 : 297/600
WC 2 : 388/600
Total : 685/600
Interacting with : @Esme Xiao
Mentioning : @Renelle Dalton