PV @Alec Mason

Backdated To September 1, 2020

It was a cool and breezy fall day, and Nell had just boarded the Hogwarts Express. While many students were carefree, Nell was completely stressed out. The muggle-born was about the begin her second year at Hogwarts, and she was a bit nervous. Why, you may ask? Well, in her first year, Nell hadn't really clicked with anybody, meaning she hadn't become really good friends with anybody. This may be because of her shyness or her fear of making friends in general. And this was extremely conflicting. Nell wanted friends. She wanted someone to chat and do homework with. But, every single time she approached someone, she would feel a rush of fear. Ever so often, she would want to feel a rush of adrenaline rather than fear, but that was only her dreaming, of course. This year, Nell really wanted to make friends. She didn't want to be lonely or be the odd one out.

Just as the second year took a seat, she placed her trunk on the floor. It was lighter this time around, since last time, she had over packed. A lot. The young girl rested her head on the cushioned surface behind her and sighed. Her thin arm found its way to the arm rest, and Nell's eyes began to close ever so slowly. She was just about to drift of into a world of dreams when she heard shuffling outside the compartment. Her eyes opened wide as someone entered. Was someone coming to sit in the back of the train with her?

『

Mentioning: Leonad Oaksworth, Clifton Troublefield
Interacting With: @Nell Zoldak
Speech Color: Red
Other: N/A

』

After being waved off by his little sister [Jackie], Alec made his way into the Hogwarts Express. It was odd, being here again, his summer had felt like a lifetime away from school, and he was going to have to adjust to getting back again.

This time without Clifton.. It was.. a lot, to hear the news, to hear that the poor boy was leaving Hogwarts because of issues that Alec wasn't allowed to name. It left Alec in disarray, with not even Leo by his side. Alec wasn't sure he'd make it through the rest of the year. He'd gotten through his first year with only being bullied a bit, but what about this year? What if he stood out more? What if his oddity shown through? What would people think?

Alec sighed, lugging his trunk as he tried to find an at least semi empty compartment. Sadly, not allowed to bring anything lighter to carry his things. Oh how he wished he could charm his trunk to make it smaller. Like a tiny trunk for ants! Alec couldn't help but smile at the silly idea as he finally found a compartment. The second he walked in, he was faced with a girl staring back at him. The smile left his features, as he scrambled to try to find words to speak, maybe it was just those back to school jitters or maybe it was just that the girl looked like she hadn't wanted company but Alec felt the need to explain himself, the explanation coming out of his mouth a stutter. "S-sorry u-um y-you see all the other c-compartments were f-full so.." Alec said, a little white lie involved, they weren't completely full just yet.

Alec gestured to the seats. "I-um.. can I-I sit here..?" He asked. If the girl were to nod or make some gesture/sound of letting him know it was okay. He'd set his trunk down on the ground and sit across from the girl. Alec didn't like the silence, it was uncomfortable. Even though he'd rather not talk, he settled on the idea of it as to not have to deal with this awkward silence. "I-I'm Alec, Alec J-" The boy paused while introducing himself, flushing red. Alec, if you introduce yourself like that one more time people are going to think your weird. He thought to himself, remembering how the way he introduced himself had been made fun of.. Quite a few times. He didn't need to make a fool of himself if he wanted new friends. The boy looked at is lap and his cheeks settled to a soft rosy pink. "A-Alec just Alec.." The boy sort of mumbled as his curly hair fell to his eyes.

It happened so often he was set on ignoring it, as if everybody's hair always fell into their eyes as well. Alec wanted a haircut, but that wasn't the problem. If he were to have it cut it'd be an odd length because of his curly hair. The boy debated doing something to try to straighten his hair out. But every time he got the chance, there always seemed to be something stopping him.

Interacting with @Alec Mason

Nell watched as the boy stuttered an explanation for his entrance. Nell just nodded when he asked to sit down. He heart was racing - she wasn't planning on sitting through this train ride with someone, but what was she going to do, kick the boy called Alec out? She couldn't. Shortly after Alec introduced himself, Nell decided it would be right if she also introduced herself. "I'm, u-uh, Nell," she said quickly. Her voice quivered, though it was the steadiest her voice had ever been when introducing herself. Nell turned a light pink and sat through the awkward silence. It didn't seem like any of them would be starting a conversation anytime soon.

About halfway through the ride, Nell was tired of sitting there. "W-what house are you in?" she asked quickly. She turned her head down quickly. Did she sound weird? Was that a bad question. Gee, I'm awkward. Thoughts ran through her mind as she waited for Alec to respond. She just should've stayed silent as usual. Nell bit her lip as her trunk handle suddenly became very interesting. Nell twirled her hair around her slender finger as she looked up and saw the boy clearly for the first time on the ride.

『

Mentioning: N/A
Interacting With: @Nell Zoldak
Speech Color: Red
Other: N/A

』

The boy watched the girl who seemed just as nervous as him. Alec obviously wasn't a people person from the way he presented himself when first walking in. It was odd. Since he was a people person.. Sort of.. He just kind of preferred to talk to the people, he knew well. Not the ones he'd just met. It made him uncomfortable to talk to those he didn't know well. How could he know if they were secretly thinking about how annoying he was. And this was why he avoided it.. And people. But of course he couldn't really avoid it or a person now.. Could he? The girl stuttered out a response. That being her name. Nell. He offered her a small smile as it went quiet again. Alec kept himself distracted by his random thoughts and just looking out the window. There was actually a lot you could come up with when it was fueled by silence. His imagination taking him places elsewhere. Far from here. He'd always wanted to travel. At least in his imagination nothing would go wrong when he did so.

It honestly made him wonde-"W-what house are you in?" She suddenly said. He looked over at her. "G-gryffindor." Alec said as he took a deep breath, trying to gain some sort of confidence, his gaze wavering before going elsewhere. "Kinda been told I should be in Hufflepuff though.." He looked up at her again. "Y-you?" He asked. Alec wasn't even going to bother trying to guess. The stereotypes of every house annoyed him. Everybody went by them as well. 'Oh so you're this because you do this.' No. That's not how it works. How the sorting hat works will forever remain a mystery. But that's not how it works if your oh so obviously in a different house.

Once he'd gotten his answer, he decided to start some conversation. "S-so opinion on Gryffindor Slytherin rivalries..?" He asked then shook his head. "N-no. That's stupid u-um.. Favorite book?" He asked. There were a ton of books out there. You never know what people read. Or their reasons for reading it. Alec liked adventure. The books where things happened and people got things done. The books where people traveled all over the world fighting evil creatures and saving the day. The books where he could be drawn into a world so unrealistic that it felt real. Drawing you away from the real world for a bit.. For just a small escape from the harsh realities of the world.

Gryffindor. When Alec asked her house, she responded in a small voice with, "Ravenclaw." Nell opened her mouth to say something on the rivalries but the question was changed to something more in her alley. Books. However, Nell had read so much that she had trouble thinking of one. "Umm..."she said quietly. Come on Nell. Think. "I've liked most things I've read, so I, u-um, couldn't tell you," she said, looking down at the floor of the train. That one crumb suddenly became extremely interesting. She finally looked to Alec and asked, "Your favorite book?" Gosh, Nell was so freaking awkward. Alec seemed friendly, but it was a shame that they were both extremely shy. Well, at least if they didn't get along they had one very obvious thing in common. Nell brushed off her robes which was very unnecessary, but, she needed to do something to make things les awkward. After she had gotten her answer she asked him yet another question. "Are you in your second year too?" He looked like he was, but Nell had met young kids that look 10x older and older people that look 10x younger than they actually are. Oh, how life is so full of surprises.

Interacting with @Nell Zoldak || Hex code:#A0A9B8 || Mentions: N/A

Alec smiled, they were on this train ride for at least who knows how long. He was glad the questions could make it fun. This and he was happy he'd landed sitting in a compartment with someone who seemed nice. Supposedly smart as well, that was the Ravenclaw reputation wasn't it? He wondered how she perceived it. Maybe Ravenclaw should have had a reputation for being nice. Gryffindor had quite its reputation but it depended on who you listened to for it. The students of Hogwarts had quite the opinions. Lots of Slytherin's no doubt did.

"I really like reading muggle fairy tales," Alec said still smiling slightly awkwardly as he ran a hand through the curly mess he called hair. "Reading up on wizard history is fun." He would have brought up Harry Potter, but the topic of him and his morality seemed controversial. Alec hadn't yet decided where he lied even if he was stuck in Gryffindor. He had enough of a mind to make his own opinions on the matter.

Alec was shy but only with people he was getting used to. He could be more open with people he'd decided he thought were nice. Nell seemed nice, it was just a hurdle or two more. "Y-yeah second year. First time returning to Hogwarts. I'm pureblood but I still find all of this so cool and mystical. The castle is amazing isn't it?" Alec talked up quite a storm, for someone who appeared so shy he had a lot to say. He hoped he wasn't scaring her away. It tends to happen with people.

"Do you have a certain book genre you like? or favorite class?" Speaking of classes, Alec sometimes forgot the school was a school. Too wrapped up in other things to remember. They were there for school. Even with this staying, there was home, for many months; you were unable to walk away from what it was. Stuck around the people you'd be living with and around next to for the many years of your life.