16 Sep 2021, 11:06
I Need a Favor
☼☼☼
Interacting with: @Halford Booth
As they say, drastic times call for drastic measures. And in those moments, Colette was at wit’s end.. It was not a good look on her, desperation. She was practically flying through the halls in disarray, hair loose, dress not as well-pressed as usual, and heels click click clacking heralding her arrival like the screeches from a bat out of hell.
Anyone who would see her at that hour would probably wonder why she would be in such a hurry that late at night. Though fortunately for her, there were no students there to witness her in this state. It was well into the night, and all of them were supposed to be in their dorms.
But she was far too stressed to care about anyone seeing her like this, and she was also too busy cursing whoever decided to put the Divination classroom so far from the Library.
She was also silently hoping that the person she was looking for was also in said classroom.
Climbing up the stairs, she vehemently rehearsed what she would say to them. She needed to be pleasant, smile, laugh, and if she had to and even if it was probably the last thing she wanted to do she would turn on the charm and flirt some if she had to. It would be her only plan if the offer of her best and favorite liquor, the promise of payment and a favor owed wouldn’t work. She needed their help, and come hell or high water, she was going to get it. Failure was not an option.
In those moments, Colette wished she was a friendlier person. Perhaps if she was one for feeble greetings or making acquaintances it would make the process smoother. But either way, the fact that she actually needed someone else – or at least their help, made her uneasy. She was not one to asl for it, nor was she one who constantly sought it. She prided herself in her independence and her well-practiced skill of “getting out pf tricky situations”. But this was too important, and much too out of her scope of ability. She needed than more than just herself.
She also just hoped that the new Divination Professor would actually help her.
Coming up on her destination, she took a moment to smooth herself down, trying to look not as desperate as she really was. And with one last deep breath, she put on a smile and knocked on the door.
"Books were safer than people anyway.” - N. Gaiman
Parselmouth| Sta: 15| Evas: 12 |Str: 7 |Wis: 12 | Arc Power: 6 | Acc: 13
Parselmouth| Sta: 15| Evas: 12 |Str: 7 |Wis: 12 | Arc Power: 6 | Acc: 13
26 Jan 2022, 06:43
I Need a Favor
@Colette Simmons
Various papers lay in disarray atop a mahogany desk, abandoned to languish in their scattered ways. The blue glow of magical firelight painted the layer of parchment uncertainly, licking at the ink and stretching written words into unnatural shapes as shadows waned and wandered. Cold stone walls attended the periphery of the sconce's sapphire reach, their emotionless visage lending to the dreary atmosphere in the room. Only the gentle whisper of the flame broke the silence, yet even that spoke of a lone soul, burning low amidst invasive gloom; burning alone.
How the flame flickers, came the forlorn thought of the room's only resident. Standing motionless, he might have been just another shadow, the way his form contorted in the gloom. But outlined against the panes of a small window was the distinguishable shape of a man's head and shoulders.
Hands clasped behind his back, Halford gazed deeply into nothing, as the canvas of night lay beyond the glass. No silver giant illuminated the sky, nor pinpricks of white; isolated in their heaven, the celestial bodies had no hope of penetrating the thick blanket of clouds which hung over the earth.
Brown eyes searched and found only emptiness, yet he did not turn away, for he could see so much more.
For so long, he had been different. Events of his past swam behind the panes, even as a circumstance not yet transpired dominated his vision for one moment. Allowing it to pass, the man refocused upon an image of himself, not seven years of age. Tears stung his young cheeks as two small legs carried him to his father's knee.
He'd begged, but they hadn't listened. He'd known, but they couldn't understand. So he'd mourned, even as the ship departed its harbor, and even before the sea had claimed its prize.
They'd believed him then, he mused bitterly. And they'd believed him ever since. One by one and two by two, they came to see the anomaly. He gave them a show, they cheered or cried - it didn't matter. But he drank it in, supplying sustenance to the only thing that filled the gap in his soul. They admired him, and why shouldn't they?
Over time, he found that none could see him in quite such a bright light as the one he cast over himself, and slowly the opinions of others dwindled to insignificance. Cheers faded to disembodied echoes, while accolades lost their shine. Why should they matter when their views were so easily swayed? No longer was his pride built upon the sandy foundation of worldly distinction, for the only one he could trust was himself.
So many years had passed that way, until here he stood, gazing into the abyss with none but a flickering candle to enjoy his presence.
For now, at least.
His isolation would not last for long, he knew. One very distressed individual was currently en route to his classroom, wherein the office he stood in lay. Of course, the brief vision he'd seen moments before hadn't depicted an exact time the event would come to pass - they rarely did. The only information he'd managed to glean on that question was that it would be late at night; for all he knew, it could be one night following the present, or even a year into the future. But somehow he had a hunch that he would soon be hearing-
Knock knock, said the classroom door, heralding a long-suffering sigh from its professor. He truly didn't want to be disturbed. Why could the world not simply leave him be? The darkness was his only real friend, but that didn't mean he wanted more.
Moving lazily to the doorway of his small office, Halford pushed aside the beads draped across its threshold and removed his wand from one sleeve. A couple of muttered words and flicks of the wrist later, the door to the classroom was unlocked and swung slowly inward, its movement as silent as the gloomy air.
Elevated atop the raised platform leading to his office, the man gazed distastefully down upon the open door, his back finding purchase against the wall.
From below, one would see only darkness, save for the flickering blue glow from above, which would highlight a tall, indiscernible figure. The stillness of sound would remain, as Halford opted to let the librarian speak first. After all, she had clearly come here for a reason; she would have to present her case on her own, and he saw no reason to expend any effort on prodding her into such an eventuality.