27 Dec 2020, 12:44
Fortune Favours the Bold
[font=century gothic]WHEN: August 9th, 2020 | Morning
WHERE: Windermere, England
WHAT: Encouraged by her mother to have some fun, Evelynn spends the day at a local faire. There, she elects to seek counsel from the hired diviner (ongoing)
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Nothing interesting ever really happened in Windermere. Ever since moving across the big pond, this had been an absolute. It was something of a paradox, really. Although really not for its lack of trying. Really, the surrounding area could hardly be considered unappealing. In fact, it would be more likely to say it was quite the opposite. Somewhat rural and bordering an expansive lake, with large plots and plenty of opportunities for waterfront property, Windermere had historically been a common retirement and holiday destination. Old money, one might say, in all senses of the word.
Granted, that wasn't to say that entertainment couldn't be found. Given the town's proximity to the lake from which it had earned its moniker, there was no shortage of adventure-seeking newcomers. The area offered scenic hiking for the active, old "steamers" for a relaxing jaunt across the lake, fine views, plenty of pubs, the restored railway and Windermere Hotel and plenty of quaint architecture for the more historically inclined. Admittedly, it could almost be argued that aside from serving peace and relaxation to the old and wizened, the town's sole purpose was that of a tourist destination.
Of course, activities of leisure weren't the only ones to find. With a younger demographic flocking to the nearby University of Cambria, the town also boasted the occasional attraction to suit a more energetic taste. Last year, there had been the music festival. The year before that, there's been a special showing of some artist or another at the gallery. Prior to that... there'd been something, surely. And this year, this year there was the faire.
27 Dec 2020, 13:05
Fortune Favours the Bold
Gravel crunched under tire as the SUV pulled slowly into a parking spot in what was very nearly a vacant lot. For all the hype and hubbub, it seemed the faire really hadn't attracted all that much attention after all. Perhaps it simply an effect of the lingering fear of the virus that still circulated. It had been reigned in, and many places of business had been reopened, but the effects could still be felt. There was still the recommendation to avoid contact where possible. To wear a mask. To wash your hands regularly. The typical warnings, and more. How the faire could still be in service was anyone's guess, really. Perhaps they'd taken extra precautions.
"So I'll pick you up around 1600?" A matronly voice lilted from the driver's seat.
Evelynn looked over to spy the profile of her mother, hair straightened to fall loose at her shoulders and the faintest hint of make-up brightening her features. She looked nice. Not like she did when she went in to work to see her patients.
"Why am I coming here, anyway?"
The redhead made no move to exit the vehicle, instead leaning back into the passenger seat and rocking her head to peer forward again. Multicoloured canvas spiked the sky above a tall grated fence. Some attempt to separate those who had paid for admission and those who had not, she imagined. There were food trucks near the entrance, little stalls dispersed just within, and above it all, she could see the ferris wheel and some other sort of ride looming up above the tents.
"I thought it might be good for you," her mother mused, lofting a brow and chancing a sidelong glance to her dubious daughter.
"Good for me?" Evelynn echoed, lips pursing and staring straight ahead as though the idea of venturing forth into the fair grounds was a personal affront.
"You don't think so?" Quite unbeknownst to the little lion since she had refused to steel her gaze away from the structures ahead, the corners of her mother's lips curled in amusement. "You've been rather cooped up in the house."
"I have not. I've been goin—"
"—for rides with Cassie, yes. I know," her mother chuckled. "But you can't spend all your time with your horse. You need to have a bit of fun like a normal child."
"But I'm not—"
"You're not abnormal, Evelynn." The car shifted slightly as her mother pulled her hands off the steering wheel and pivoted in her seat to better appraise the stubborn girl. "I'm sorry.." Brows pinched together in a pained expression. "That's.. that's not what I meant."
Evelynn's lips parted, but she didn't say anything, instead expelling a frustrated puff of air before closing them again.
"Listen, I have to run some errands."
"I know.."
"You might actually have some fun if you let yourself adventure a bit."
"I think I've had enough adventures for the year.."
"They have a ferris wheel," her mother implored, evidently trying to appeal to Evelynn's childhood enjoyment, "you always liked that."
"I can fly on the school brooms, mum."
"Here..." A few bills appeared suspended in the air between mother and daughter. "You can at least get yourself some cotton candy. Get your fortune read. Honey, I don't know. Just try? Please? For me?" There was a pause her mother's speech, and Evelynn could feel eyes on her again, as though she were being read for any sort of reaction. "Maybe you can find something interesting to send back to your friend?"
Well that did draw out a mirrored look of confusion, brows knitting as Evelynn shot her mother a speculative look. "What friend?"
"Woodward?"
"Oh..." Place on the defensive, Evelynn had been about to ask how her mother knew about him, but the recollection of that conversation came rushing quickly back.
They'd been texting incessantly all summer, sending snaps and blurbs back and forth to each other. It wasn't as though she'd been particularly subtle about it. Nor was her mother the sort to allow her electronic use to go unmonitored. Admittedly, the conversing had gone on for quite a while before any query had been raised about it. Even then, it was more in relation to the Gryffindor Yearbook that her mother had found among her belongings and the pointedly observant comments about her peers that had finally provided ammunition to inquire after him.
"I suppose.." she sighed.
Perhaps she really was being rather more difficult than necessary. It wasn't as though the fair hadn't piqued her interest. She'd heard there was to be a fortune teller there, and some performances of one sort or another—perhaps even muggle magic, which she still enjoyed even after attending Hogwarts for the skill in sleight of hand and entertainment that it provided. And Charlie probably would adore some sort of knickknack.
With that, her posture finally relaxed. Arms uncrossed, her expression slackened, and she reached a hand for the door. "Alright. I'll meet you back here at four."
27 Dec 2020, 15:18
Fortune Favours the Bold
Grass padded footfalls meandered between the stalls and stands of the faire grounds. Go to the faire, her mother had instructed her. It'll be a chance to have some fun, had come the following insistence. In fairness, there were more than a few children milling about the area with large pastel clouds of floss in their hands and great wide grins splitting their faces. Or so she assumed, anyway. Everyone was still required to wear masks when in any sort of proximity to one another, but smiles like these could not so easily be hidden. True exultation could still be seen by the crinkle of a lid, and the glimmer of the eyes. It was obvious that for them, the twinkling decorative lights of the rides, inviting flashes of signs, intoxicating aromas of faire foods, boisterous challenges of booth keepers, and everything else in between...it held a certain magic that flirted with the senses and enticed actions of boldness and bravery.
Evelynn could only groan, lips crimping beneath her own fabric covering to covertly express her dissatisfaction. After having spent the last year in a true castle—not some makeshift fantastical propped up display of one—with grand moving stair cases, floating candles and walking suits of armor...this just didn't hold the same appeal. Not that it ever had, really. She had never been one to hold much interest for carnivals. Perhaps paradoxically given her delight for equestrian sports and high velocity flights, she was not particularly enamored with the notion of careening herself in jarring motions around tight corners of coasters, or to put herself at the mercy of the centrifugal force of spinning rides. The "magic" tricks were often far too basic, the games rigged, and the food underwhelming.
Even the Ferris wheel that her mother had attempted to use as a sort of lure failed to draw Evelynn's attention. Although she'd admit to once feeling a little thrill with the heights reached at the peak of that rotating wheel, the experience seemed rather paltry now that she'd soared the skies upon a broom. What did manage to turn her gaze, however, was one of the other highlighted attractions.
The subtle whiff of burning incense had been the first hint of its promised existence. Like a tendril drawing her in, it had forced her meandering step to veer in its direction, setting her path to weave in and amongst the dispersed crowd and propped tents until she found herself face to face with a rather squat structure hidden away in a corner of the grounds. In extravagant excess, she found it draped with layers of coloured scarfs of various textures, patterns, and levels of stoning, glitter and sequining—Evelynn was suddenly quite glad for the overcast day to dull the shimmer. Runes had been painted on the wooden beams that propped open the doorway, while crystals hung from fishing lines amidst a beaded doorway, and fairies smiled up from the grass perimeter. Really, it was as though someone had taken every feature even remotely associated with mysticism and regurgitated it all upon the hut. It was almost enough to make the young witch about-face on the spot and make a rapid retreat.
Almost.
Something made her pause, to stay her stance. Through the ridiculously unnecessary addition of a low-creeping fog seeping from the entrance, Evelynn couldn't help but feel as though there was actually something deeper drawing her to investigate. An abstract thought flickered to the surface of her mind. How clever it would be for one who possessed the Sight to pose as a muggle's diviner, employing the commercial exterior as a mask to hide in plain sight. It couldn't be true, though. The chance of an encounter with someone of her own novel realm would be unprecedented, she assumed. And yet...with a slight tilt of her head and furrow of her brow, she found her feet stepping off once more as curiosity took hold. With a hand raised to push aside the beaded veil and her steps whirling the dense fog about her frame, she entered.