Graci was enjoying herself more than she thought she would at this party thing. Granted she wasn't actually at the party, but close enough.

"A lesson about house pets would be rather boring. Though, a lot of people don't properly know how to take care of their pets, so it might be necessary. But learning about, like, hippogriffs or unicorns or something would still be waaaay more fun. However unnecessary. Because when is half the class actually going to use the information? I mean, some of them, but certainly not all."

Graci chuckled a bit, hoping she hadn't talked too much. She seemed to be doing that a lot, and Dylan hadn't been talking a lot so she felt like she was yapping too much.

At this point in the maze they had gotten sufficiently lost, the point of the first few moments, and were now trying to find their way out. Just a different way from whence they came.

"As for this maze, we could either go back the way we came, just follow the leaves. Ooor, we could try to find a different way. This past bit was just getting lost. But now it's the fun part where we actually have to choose a path."

She stopped at a random cross road, turning to him to see his answer. This was the longest she'd talked to someone in one conversation since Hogwarts. And even then, those weren't spectacularly long, either. Hm, can't have everything though. Next year you'll know more people and have better conversations.

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OOC notes: It's kinda late, sorry. And it's kinda short too x-x

coded by Eugenia Karageorgiadi & Banner By Andronica Evans

Interacting with: @Graci Laren Mentioning: N/A Date: Summer

Word Count: 201

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Dylan nodded in agreement as Graci talked about magical and non-magical creatures, She wasn't wrong about not everyone knowing about the creatures, but he also knew how useful it could be. There could always be a time when magical creature knowledge could come up in a career. Even if it was something like what his mother did. She used to say all the time that she never regretted taking a magical creatures class during her time at Hogwarts because it was very useful when knowing how to treat each would by knowing what creature caused it. "I vote we find a new path. If we get lost, at least we have the leaves to help us find the way out. I've always found it more exciting to take the untread path." Dylan smiled. He always loved taking adventures that very few or no people had taken. The thrill it brought amazed him. As Dylan walked through the maze, every twist and turn surprised him. This maze was large, but not impossible. He knew that they could get through it if they thought things through. At least, that's what usually worked for him. Though, there were still times that it didn't work.

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Graci was really enjoying going through the maze. Just thinking. About a lot of things. The past year had been rather hectic, so she had plenty to ponder. Till she remembered that Dylan was there.

"New path it is!" Graci wasn't too tall, so she couldn't see over the hedges, even standing on a fountain, but she had stared at it from windows a lot that day.

It was quite crazy, just how large the maze was in comparison to the house. If you really looked at Strat's house, you would realize all the rooms are quite small, save for the one he hosted parties in. He most likely spends all of his effort just maintaining this. Might have even planted it himself. He IS quite old, so I wouldn't discredit him, he had quite a lot of time to do it.

"What is it like, going to Ilvermorny? I suppose its quite different from Hogwarts, being in America and all. Then again, all of the schools sound much different from what I'm used to. I've actually been researching some of the other schools. Beauxbatons and Tenũsa interest me most."

Graci could've sworn she heard laughter from the house on one way, so that was the path she took, hoping to get out before sun down and then just... chilling till they got to leave. Hm, that'll be quite a lot of talking.

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OOC notes:

coded by Eugenia Karageorgiadi

Interacting with: @Graci Laren Mentioning: N/A Date: Summer

Word Count: 219

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Dylan smiled as they walked down the path. The idea of a crazy adventure in the dark sounded fun to him. It had been so long since he had actually had a nightly excursion, so this was the perfect way to get back into it. Plus they probably should find the way out soon. Dylan knew that after a while his mother probably would get worried. No matter how apparent it was for her to keep up appearances. Dylan thought for a moment about what he was going to say about Ilvermony before he finally decided, "Well, like you said it's really nothing like Hogwarts. It's very. . . American. I mean that not in a bad way, but it's more informal than Hogwarts. I really enjoyed the friends I made, but it wasn't. . . Hogwarts." Dylan knew that his answer wasn't completely satisfactory, but he didn't really know what else to say. Every time he tried to think of things about Ilvermony, thoughts of what he could have at Hogwarts haunted him. He had not only met a girl that he possibly had feelings for and he had his cousin there. He wished he could be there someday, but he knew it wouldn't happen. His mother probably wouldn't let him even move back to Wales until he was at least graduated.

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Graci had never really gone through a ton of mazes before, not for lacxk of wanting to or trying, her family just... never did. Which was quite unfortunate, though completely in character for all of them. Most of the time her parents and Zoe preferred to sit and read inside. That, or hiking, which had an obscene amount of trees, and no mazes.

"I take it you really wanted to go to Hogwarts? Well, obviously, your cousin is there, after all. I would want to go to Hogwarts if me and Zoe were at different schools."

And there it was again, another Zoe reference. She really is such a big part of my life that I can't have a conversation without mentioning her. Rather odd, really, she seemed to have no qualms with leaving me.

Graci tried to think of happier thoughts. or ones with less Zoe in them, at least. Mazes. Just think of mazes right now. Or broom racing, that would be a cool thing to disassociate with. Ish. I really need to re-read the rules.

While her mind was wondering, it came to the subject of Strat. Slimy, slimy Strat. All in all he didn't seem too bad, just very uneducated in muggle ways, while still being one of the most muggle behaving wizards she knew. And she couldn't figure him out for the life of her.

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OOC notes:

coded by Eugenia Karageorgiadi --- @Dylan Astor

Interacting with: @Graci Laren Mentioning: N/A Date: Summer

Word Count: 215

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"Yeah. I did. Honestly, I was born and raised in Wales. All of my family has graduated from Hogwarts or will graduate from Hogwarts except for me. All because of one person. Though, Avery would probably have my head if I told you about that. She's not exactly ready to talk about it. Not even with me." Dylan sighed. The news they had received was still so new that Avery had barely talked about it to anyone. "Is Zoe your sister or cousin, or just a friend? You don't have to respond if you don't feel comfortable, but I was just wondering since she seems like a nice person." Dylan asked. Curiosity getting the better of him. What was that old muggle saying he had heard an American muggle say once? Curiosity killed the cat? Yeah. That was it. He hoped that whatever that saying meant wasn't going to come back and bite him. Maybe he should think about what he was going to say before he said it? That would probably be a good idea. Dylan was enjoying the thrill that came with wandering through the maze. Every twist and turn brought more questions up about where the way out really was. He really needed to explore more mazes. They were just too fascinating.

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Graci smiled at him, not a happy smile, but a sympathetic smile, "Well, let's hope Avery isn't in a mood for vengeance, I'd like to keep my head, thank you very much."

Zoe was always a topic that had many words to fill the silence. For Graci, at least, most other people didn't know much about Zoe.

"She's my sister, twin, actually. And yes, I would say she's a nice person. I mean, it depends on who you ask. Most of our teachers would say she's a troublemaker. And people she randomly has a small interaction with will say she's rude. She's just introverted, that's all. And very sassy and stubborn. I wouldn't say we're opposites per se... but it's pretty close. We even look different. She's pale as can be, ginger, bright green eyes. Yeah, it's pretty weird, but we are twins, contrary to what most people think. We were inseparable before.."

Graci didn't know if the end of her sentence was left hanging or definite, but she did know their was more to the 'before'. Hm, I can't really stay in denial for too long when I start talking about the thing I'm in denial about. I'm really not making things easy for myself, am I?

In all truth, she didn't know why she was spilling this part of her life to a virtual stranger, a part she had yet to come to terms with. Then again, she was a rather talkative person so it was completely in character for her.

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OOC notes: sorry, tis late

coded by Eugenia Karageorgiadi --- @Dylan Astor

Interacting with: @Graci Laren Mentioning: N/A Date: Summer

Word Count: 201

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Dylan listened carefully as Graci talked about her sister. From what he now knew, she did seem like a nice person that would probably get along well with Avery. She had always had a way with breaking people out of their shells and making them feel safe. He knew she would be an amazing mother someday when she had the chance. "You're so lucky that you have a twin. Even though I'm an only child, Avery has basically been my only sister ever since we were born. In a way we're almost twins since our mothers are twins and we are only two days apart as far as birthdays. Though, it would be nice to have an actual twin." Dylan smiled, but his smile faded quickly. He had no idea what had happened that caused Graci and her twin, Zoe to become less close. He didn't push, though. He knew what it was like to hold things in. Protect them from the world until you understood it yourself. He had done and still did the same thing. Especially when it came to family issues and the reason why he was forced to move away from his home in the first place.

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Graci... wasn't the best at feelings. She felt them a lot, but she never talked about them. Well, not with complete strangers, that is. Her mother and Zoe maybe, but not someone she knew virtually nothing about.

Then again, she wasn't talking about her feelings currently, though they were evident in her voice. She was just stating facts. My brain is entirely too over complicated for this. Like- I'm not sharing my feelings, but you can tell anyway, but I don't even know what feelings I'm feeling. Maybe my brain is short circuiting. But I don't have circuits.... Anyway.

"I mean, at least you have a person? It's better than no people. Not that I'd know.... Anyway, completely off topic, but do you think I'm weird. Like- slightly not normal. I mean, obviously, I'm a little wacky, and what even is normal, but you seem like a person with a good head on your shoulders, not very loopy like me. I suppose what I'm trying to ask is if my oddness is ever a bit awkwardly overstimulating."

Graci was genuinely curious. She was not yet used to talking a lot, though more so since the school year, and wondered how people perceived her. Perception is such a funny thing. It can change everything. And I think it's actually been at work a lot this past year. Too much.

Occasionally she got into moods where she felt quite mature. She was, but she was also quite uneducated in manners that did not directly concern herself. Is that not how all kids my age's lives are? How would I know.

Visceral hate she felt for few things, but one of them was not knowing. Once she latched onto a subject she obsessed over it till her interest was sated. Another was people's disdain for others, but that's a story for another time.

I really need to pay better attention when people talk to me. One of these day I'm going to completely miss what people say.

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OOC notes: speech: #a70606 Don't worry about responding any time soon

coded by Eugenia Karageorgiadi --- @Dylan Astor

Interacting with: @Graci Laren Mentioning: N/A Date: Summer

Word Count: 219

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Dylan was surprised at her question. He hadn’t expected it, so it took him a moment to respond. When he finally had his thoughts straight, he said, “You’re not weird at all. Honestly, I think I’m the one that’s messed up. I’m honored you think that of me, but if we’re talking about the truth? This summer is really the first time in a long time that I’ve felt myself and not crazy.” Dylan sighed at the confession. It was something he had constantly thought about ever since he had left Wales. What did people think of him? Did they like him or did they just tolerate him because he was the son of a man that came from a prestigious pureblood family? Dylan didn’t say anything more after that. The silence falling between them, but not pushing them apart. He felt that he finally understood her a little more. He knew there was more to everyone’s stories, especially theirs, but it takes time to tell the full story. Dylan couldn’t wait for the day that he finally heard her full story. She wasn’t weird or annoying. Dylan actually enjoyed her company as they navigated the maze. It was a fun experience that he really needed more than anything at the moment, and didn’t even realize it until then.

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