24 Apr 2022, 20:05
Another Lilly!?
--- Date: 13/11/21 || Time: 09:23 ---
Sophia yawned as she crept through the corridors. It was just after nine in the morning, and it was very rare for her to wake up so early, even on the weekdays. Yes, she was no stranger to rushing into class at the last minute in the mornings.
Today, however, she'd been awake since about seven thirty. Today, she had a goal. A plan, even.
First, she'd woken earlier than she had in years.
Second, she'd snuck out to the castle grounds to find the best possible stick for her plan. She would have used her wand, but she didn't want to risk it. A stick was more fitting anyway.
Third, she had to go on the hunt. The prowl. She had to sneak up on someone that was always far more calm and reserved than she ever would be. It would be a challenge, but she could do it.
She crept into the Great Hall, diving behind a table and scanned the rest of the room, specifically around the Gryffindor table. She had a target in mind, if she could only find her.
She finally saw a familiar bob cut towering above the shorter first years and smiled. There Sage was!
Sophia stayed crouched and snuck her way over behind her first ever friend at Hogwarts. She couldn't tell if Sage had noticed her just yet, but she liked to imagine she was being more stealthy than that and she didn't need to worry. She got closer to Sage and slipped her hands around the taller girl's eyes, only briefly noting how uncomfortable it was to hold her arms so high from this position. Curse her shortness!
"Guess who," she whispered, excited for what was to come. The stick was resting carefully in her inner pocket, and she was so, so excited.
Notes:Reduciooh dear, Sage
Interacting:
@Sage Lilly
Mentioning:
Last edited by Phaedra Stavrou on 3 May 2022, 23:41, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: changed to RPG
2 May 2022, 02:08
Another Lilly!?
A copy of the Daily Prophet in one hand, and a steaming cup of tea in the other, Sage took her breakfast in absolute silence.
Sitting at the Gryffindor table, the brunette wore a solemn face, lids still heavy from sleep. She'd spent the entire week slogging away at a never-ending pile of schoolwork so it was nice to slow down during the weekends.
Aside from a few errands, the rest of the day would go unplanned and will be susceptible to the whims and fancy of a twelve-year old.
There's an interesting section in the Prophet at the moment, a piece on magic theory that got her attention. It was a good way to get the mind going in the morning. The girl was fixated upon it, processing the article as best as she could - young minds like hers were prone to storing useless bits of information for later use. Unguarded in her contemplation, Sage was undoubtedly open for a sneak-attack.
Right then, thin arms snaked from behind, and attempted to cover her eyes. Attempted, because they barely did any covering; Sage closed her eyes anyway, if only to save her eyeballs from being poked at.
The sudden contact had made her jump a little, still unused to the skinship shared between close friends. A whisper later and Sage relaxed a little, knowing now to whom it belonged to.
"Soph," groaned the first-year Gryffindor, and set down her newspaper and cup on the table. She turned around while gently prying the redhead's hands from her face, greeting the other with a grin. "Morning."
"What's up?"
Sitting at the Gryffindor table, the brunette wore a solemn face, lids still heavy from sleep. She'd spent the entire week slogging away at a never-ending pile of schoolwork so it was nice to slow down during the weekends.
Aside from a few errands, the rest of the day would go unplanned and will be susceptible to the whims and fancy of a twelve-year old.
There's an interesting section in the Prophet at the moment, a piece on magic theory that got her attention. It was a good way to get the mind going in the morning. The girl was fixated upon it, processing the article as best as she could - young minds like hers were prone to storing useless bits of information for later use. Unguarded in her contemplation, Sage was undoubtedly open for a sneak-attack.
Right then, thin arms snaked from behind, and attempted to cover her eyes. Attempted, because they barely did any covering; Sage closed her eyes anyway, if only to save her eyeballs from being poked at.
The sudden contact had made her jump a little, still unused to the skinship shared between close friends. A whisper later and Sage relaxed a little, knowing now to whom it belonged to.
"Soph," groaned the first-year Gryffindor, and set down her newspaper and cup on the table. She turned around while gently prying the redhead's hands from her face, greeting the other with a grin. "Morning."
"What's up?"
Last edited by Sage Lilly on 7 May 2022, 08:59, edited 1 time in total.
i want a storm i can dance in. i want an excuse to change my life.
⸙ | replies will be slow-going #698B69
STA 6 | EVA 5 | STR 6 | WIS 8 | ARC 9 | ACC 6
2 May 2022, 02:36
Another Lilly!?
Sophia grinned back at Sage, satisfied to have gotten the jump on the older girl, but her grin was a bit more troublesome than that which would accompany a friendly meeting. Indeed, Sophia was truly up to no good.
She pulled her hands away as they were removed from Sage's eyes and rested them confidently on her hips. With a sly smirk uncharacteristic of her normal demeanor, she sauntered smugly to the spot beside Sage at the Gryffindor table and plopped down inelegantly. She threw her left arm around Sage's shoulder and sighed dreamily.
"Well, Sage," she said while maximizing eye contact, which was strange for her, "I met someone in the Common Room last night. A boy."
She paused for dramatic effect, hoping to build up the anticipation for Sage. To allow the girl to come to her own conclusions. She looked around the table and grabbed some toast, piling it with eggs and quickly scarfed it down. It wasn't often that she could treat herself to actual breakfast, so she enjoyed it when she could. Washing it down with a bit of Sage's tea - without realizing it, to be honest - she turned back to her friend.
When she was satisfied that the gears in Sage's mind had had plenty of time to process the implications, especially so early in the morning, she grinned mischievously and added the real punchline.
"A boy named Gus," she said with a wink, "Gus Lilly. And he had some very interesting stories for me."
@Sage Lilly
10 May 2022, 20:44
Another Lilly!?
A boy.
Merlin's bollocks, of all things, did it have to be a boy?
Sage scowled in distaste, putting the newspaper aside. No, it can’t be! She wasn’t turning into one of those… those girls, was she? Oh, you know the ones. Tittering in the hallways, flipping their hair and constantly making eyes at some pimply adolescent; the very same ones who got their knickers in a twist trying to get a date for the ball - those girls!
Her eyes rounded in horror, her short bob slicing the air as she whipped about and stared at the redhead. Not that she had anything against girls like that, really. It just frustrated her how they liked to fill their heads with the most vacuous of subjects ever. An absolute waste of mental space, Sage thought.
“A boy? Soph, I thought you were better’n that!” rebuked Sage, frowning as she watched the girl gobble up some eggs and toast. While slightly peeved by her own assumptions, the taller girl thumbed away at a tiny scrap of breakfast from her friend’s cheek, tutting all the while. She was reminded of her younger brother, Turner; he was a messy eater, too.
The Gryffindor topped her cup with some more tea, watching the amber liquid intently as she waited for the girl to elaborate. Ever the analyst, she was already thinking of ways to save her friend from the inevitable boy-spiral of madness.
"A boy named Gus,"
The tea sloshed past the brim, a dark stain growing on the tablecloth. Sage's worries were displaced by fear. This was worse than a boy-obsession.
"... And he had some very interesting stories for me."
No. No.
Despite the morning light, Sage’s pupils were pinpricks, and her once-rosy cheeks were now blanched. Something sour crept up her throat, and Merlin, she felt like she might throw up. She set down the teapot with a clank.
Of course. It was only a matter of time before they met. They were in the same House so it was bound to happen, too. Sage had not expected the two to cross paths so soon, though, figuring Gus would be too busy studying for his N.E.W.T.s to show his face outside his dorms and that he’d graduate from Hogwarts before anyone could make the connection between them.
She found it hard to compose herself and rightly so.
It was one thing to bring up her brother in a conversation (mostly coming from her, if only to smear his name) but quite another when someone else spoke of him. Most would associate Gus with boundless talent, and the thought never failed to make her feel insignificant.
“... What did my older brother say about me?”
Sage averted her eyes from the redhead and focused on drowning her serviette in the mess that she had made.
Merlin's bollocks, of all things, did it have to be a boy?
Sage scowled in distaste, putting the newspaper aside. No, it can’t be! She wasn’t turning into one of those… those girls, was she? Oh, you know the ones. Tittering in the hallways, flipping their hair and constantly making eyes at some pimply adolescent; the very same ones who got their knickers in a twist trying to get a date for the ball - those girls!
Her eyes rounded in horror, her short bob slicing the air as she whipped about and stared at the redhead. Not that she had anything against girls like that, really. It just frustrated her how they liked to fill their heads with the most vacuous of subjects ever. An absolute waste of mental space, Sage thought.
“A boy? Soph, I thought you were better’n that!” rebuked Sage, frowning as she watched the girl gobble up some eggs and toast. While slightly peeved by her own assumptions, the taller girl thumbed away at a tiny scrap of breakfast from her friend’s cheek, tutting all the while. She was reminded of her younger brother, Turner; he was a messy eater, too.
The Gryffindor topped her cup with some more tea, watching the amber liquid intently as she waited for the girl to elaborate. Ever the analyst, she was already thinking of ways to save her friend from the inevitable boy-spiral of madness.
"A boy named Gus,"
The tea sloshed past the brim, a dark stain growing on the tablecloth. Sage's worries were displaced by fear. This was worse than a boy-obsession.
"... And he had some very interesting stories for me."
No. No.
Despite the morning light, Sage’s pupils were pinpricks, and her once-rosy cheeks were now blanched. Something sour crept up her throat, and Merlin, she felt like she might throw up. She set down the teapot with a clank.
Of course. It was only a matter of time before they met. They were in the same House so it was bound to happen, too. Sage had not expected the two to cross paths so soon, though, figuring Gus would be too busy studying for his N.E.W.T.s to show his face outside his dorms and that he’d graduate from Hogwarts before anyone could make the connection between them.
She found it hard to compose herself and rightly so.
It was one thing to bring up her brother in a conversation (mostly coming from her, if only to smear his name) but quite another when someone else spoke of him. Most would associate Gus with boundless talent, and the thought never failed to make her feel insignificant.
“... What did my older brother say about me?”
Sage averted her eyes from the redhead and focused on drowning her serviette in the mess that she had made.
@Sophia Nelson
i want a storm i can dance in. i want an excuse to change my life.
⸙ | replies will be slow-going #698B69
STA 6 | EVA 5 | STR 6 | WIS 8 | ARC 9 | ACC 6
11 May 2022, 05:53
Another Lilly!?
“A boy? Soph, I thought you were better’n that!”
Despite knowing she was only messing with Sage, Sophia felt her belly fill with a giddy warmth. Sage thought that well of her? She knew it wasn't a very high bar, but the fact that Sage respected her as more than a boy-chaser was genuinely kind in Sophia's eyes, and she was so, so thankful for her friend.
As soon as the real revelation left her mouth, though, she began to wonder if she'd gone too far. Judging by the growing stain on the tablecloth, she might very well have.
"Do you need help, Sage?" she asked in concern. She was genuinely worried about her friend. It wasn't often that she could catch Sage of all people making a mess. Did the mention of her brother make her that upset? Sophia was suddenly feeling a bit bad about all of this. Maybe she should call it off? She didn't want Sage to hate her.
No, no. Sage would never hate her. She was too kind for that. Besides, from what Gus had told her, their relationship wasn't bad at all, so Sophia was at a loss for what could possibly have caused Sage to clam up like that.
“... What did my older brother say about me?” she asked, and Sophia didn't hear any of her normal teasing lilt or chipper attitude in those words. They were the words of someone thoroughly defeated. Did she hate her brother or something? Maybe she just hated the idea of Sophia knowing her brother? But why? If Sophia had siblings, she'd be dragging Sage to meet them immediately. Based on her friend's words, though, it seemed she was more afraid of what Gus had told her.
What could Gus have possibly told her that Sage wouldn't approve of? He'd just told her a few fun childhood stories. It wasn't as if he'd shared some super dark secret, like the fact that she was a serial killer or something.
Yeah, it wasn't that bad, so Sophia didn't need to feel bad about messing with Sage! Nope, she wouldn't. The plan was still on.
She quickly stood from her seat and reached into her robe, pulling out the small stick and gently whack-ing Sage on the head with it.
"First," she said, allowing herself another whack at Sage, "He told me about your first instance of magic."
Whack!
"About the plants!"
Whack!
"And about how you essentially became a tiny piñata!"
Whack!
"It was so, so adorable! Baby Sage would be the most precious thing ever, and I would kill to see it!" she shouted excitedly, "Just imagine a tiny you hanging by the ankle above a little pond!"
She squealed in joy at the image. Her friend was already adorable, but the thought that she could be even cuter was just unfathomable to Sophia, so she was content to live the experience through Gus for now.
@Sage Lilly
24 May 2022, 15:50
Another Lilly!?
Sage wasn’t upset.
Really, she hasn’t been upset for years. Upset was a deeper emotion lodged within a heaving chest. Upset was a winch that drew up a well’s worth of hurt. The girl was sad and unsettled and troubled but certainly not upset.
Now that she’d met Gus, Sophia must think the world of him.
Augustus Lilly was sensational in both mind and magic - he was the real thing. Sage had lived in her brother’s shadow for most of her life and it was only natural that he’d eclipse her socially, as well. Now that Sophia knew the truth, she would stop associating with her; why befriend a fluke when a genius was around?
A dull thump on her head chased the brooding thoughts away.
Bloody hell?
Her hand came up to rub the spot, but was met with another rap. Was that … a stick? What’s it doing in Sophia's hand, and by Merlin, why was the redhead hitting her with it!?
“…about your first instance of magic." Sophia knocked the stick on her head with every statement she made. "About the plants!…how you essentially became a tiny piñata!"
Sage couldn’t even get a word in, nor wallow in self-pity, let alone ask what on earth a piñata was. The series of whacks thoroughly bamboozled the young Gryffindor. She was oh-so puzzled that she'd forgotten what she'd been fretful about.
"Pin…pin-yah-tuh?"
The word felt weird in her mouth, but it was supposedly something Muggles hung by its ankles and hit with a stick for entertainment? Sage shivered, who knew Sophia's people could be so cruel.
The first time she cast unintentional magic had been so long ago; her memory of it was foggy. She heard variations of it from mum and dad, but Gus' version probably was the most accurate. He'd been there to witness it.
"Cute?" She felt something rise in her chest as colour rushed to her cheeks. "What's so cute about that! I coulda died!"
Gus had once said there were grindylows in the pond. A fib meant to horrify annoying little sisters. She had believed it, then, too. Suppose this was how her brother intended to ruin her; making her look like a fool - well, he's gone and done it!
Though she fought against it, her grey-green eyes took on a watery sheen.
Being a fool was fine. But a fool without her friend? She reckoned the next six years would be nothing but unbearable.
@Sophia Nelson
Really, she hasn’t been upset for years. Upset was a deeper emotion lodged within a heaving chest. Upset was a winch that drew up a well’s worth of hurt. The girl was sad and unsettled and troubled but certainly not upset.
Now that she’d met Gus, Sophia must think the world of him.
Augustus Lilly was sensational in both mind and magic - he was the real thing. Sage had lived in her brother’s shadow for most of her life and it was only natural that he’d eclipse her socially, as well. Now that Sophia knew the truth, she would stop associating with her; why befriend a fluke when a genius was around?
A dull thump on her head chased the brooding thoughts away.
Bloody hell?
Her hand came up to rub the spot, but was met with another rap. Was that … a stick? What’s it doing in Sophia's hand, and by Merlin, why was the redhead hitting her with it!?
“…about your first instance of magic." Sophia knocked the stick on her head with every statement she made. "About the plants!…how you essentially became a tiny piñata!"
Sage couldn’t even get a word in, nor wallow in self-pity, let alone ask what on earth a piñata was. The series of whacks thoroughly bamboozled the young Gryffindor. She was oh-so puzzled that she'd forgotten what she'd been fretful about.
"Pin…pin-yah-tuh?"
The word felt weird in her mouth, but it was supposedly something Muggles hung by its ankles and hit with a stick for entertainment? Sage shivered, who knew Sophia's people could be so cruel.
The first time she cast unintentional magic had been so long ago; her memory of it was foggy. She heard variations of it from mum and dad, but Gus' version probably was the most accurate. He'd been there to witness it.
"Cute?" She felt something rise in her chest as colour rushed to her cheeks. "What's so cute about that! I coulda died!"
Gus had once said there were grindylows in the pond. A fib meant to horrify annoying little sisters. She had believed it, then, too. Suppose this was how her brother intended to ruin her; making her look like a fool - well, he's gone and done it!
Though she fought against it, her grey-green eyes took on a watery sheen.
Being a fool was fine. But a fool without her friend? She reckoned the next six years would be nothing but unbearable.
@Sophia Nelson
i want a storm i can dance in. i want an excuse to change my life.
⸙ | replies will be slow-going #698B69
STA 6 | EVA 5 | STR 6 | WIS 8 | ARC 9 | ACC 6
26 May 2022, 01:22
Another Lilly!?
Sophia was filled with giddy glee at the thought of an adorable piñata-like Sage, and so caught up was she in the exciting rapping of her hand-picked stick on the girl's head, that she almost missed the tentative testing of the word from her friend's mouth.
"Pin…pin-yah-tuh?" Sage asked tentatively.
Sophia felt stupid for forgetting that Sage didn't grow up as a boring muggle like herself. She probably didn't know what a piñata was! The redhead settled back in her seat next to her friend and grabbed a sausage from the table. Holding it up, she explained, "Pretend this sausage is made of paper mache, and that it's like, uh, filled with candy. The kids will, uh -"
She placed her stick on the table and grabbed a fork, smacking the sausage with it as hard as she could. After a few whacks, the sausage broke into pieces, causing juices and bits of meat to fly all over the table around them.
"Like that!" she said excitedly, "Kids hit the piñata with a stick while blindfolded until all the candy comes out! It's so fun!"
But Sophia abandoned the piñata-based tangent, returning to gushing about a baby Sage and her first instance of magic. She squealed excitedly, kicking her legs under the table as she pictured the girl flailing about, hanging by a single leg.
"You wouldn't've died, Sage, your family would have protected you even if you hadn't saved yourself,"she said with a smile, "But I only wish I could have seen it. You're adorable anyway, but 'tiny-Sage' sounds even cuter!"
As Sophia's hands shot to her mouth to try to hide an excited squeal, her eyes met Sage's and she realized that something was terribly wrong. Sage didn't seem as happy as she did. Her eyes even seemed to be watering, in fact. Oh no. Had she said something wrong?
Sophia's ignorant laughter died quickly, and her smile fell.
"Oh Lord, Sage, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings or anything. I just thought you sounded so adorable."
She put her arm around Sage's shoulder, turning her full attention to her friend, "Do you want to talk about it? The whole incident, I mean. If I brought up something that you're not ready to think about, I'm so sorry."
Maybe Sophia could help Sage to work through this trauma. She couldn't just leave her suffering like that, and she didn't want the girl to hate her. She didn't want to lose her friend because she'd thoughtlessly brought up a story she'd heard from Gus. She threw one arm around Sage's shoulder, pulling her close, and grabbed her hand with the other.
Giving Sage's hand a gentle squeeze, Sophia said, "You're my friend, Sage. I won't talk about it again if it bothers you."
@Sage Lilly
23 Jun 2022, 19:38
Another Lilly!?
A flicker of horror flashed in Sage's teary gaze as she witnessed the sausage's plight, its dismembered chunks falling onto a plate.
Something, not someone and apparently, it involved sweets! Well, that's something to be thankful for, right? Her littler self had resembled a piñata dangling by the vine, and must've looked ripe for a round of walloping. Truly, Muggles had the strangest customs, not that Wizardkind was any different.
But the explanation hadn't stemmed the dread the girl felt. Sage wished she ascribed to the same mental image her friend had of her. Would her adorableness increase her value in Sophia's eyes? Sage felt hopeful.
"It's just," the girl sniffed and wiped at her damp cheeks angrily and her voice was thin like a reed. "I'd thought that once you met Gus, you wouldn't want me around anymore."
Just as she had said that, a skinny arm went over her slumped shoulders. The gesture was comforting, and the warmth from Sophia's hand soothed her greatly. Seated like this, their height difference didn't matter - Sage felt small, in fact, like a baby chick nestled to its mother hen.
"I wouldn't blame you if you did. My brother's so much better than I, and you're in t-the same House… it makes sense that you would-" Sage felt her lower lip quiver, and she hated it so, this much emotion was unlike her at all.
In fact, she needn't even worry. Sophia seemed to sense her fears and was way ahead of her. Oh, thank Merlin! She eyed her friend with wonder, as if unable to believe her words.
"Truly?" Sage didn't mean to doubt Sophia but when one has a brother like Gus, it was natural to feel like a rock next to a jewel. Of course, she didn't like feeling like the lesser Lilly - despite all the fuss she made about one-upping her brother, deep inside was someone who yearned to step out of the hulking shadow she called her worth.
"D'you mean it? Then you'll be stuck with… with this piñata, for as long as you're willing."
@Sophia Nelson
Something, not someone and apparently, it involved sweets! Well, that's something to be thankful for, right? Her littler self had resembled a piñata dangling by the vine, and must've looked ripe for a round of walloping. Truly, Muggles had the strangest customs, not that Wizardkind was any different.
But the explanation hadn't stemmed the dread the girl felt. Sage wished she ascribed to the same mental image her friend had of her. Would her adorableness increase her value in Sophia's eyes? Sage felt hopeful.
"It's just," the girl sniffed and wiped at her damp cheeks angrily and her voice was thin like a reed. "I'd thought that once you met Gus, you wouldn't want me around anymore."
Just as she had said that, a skinny arm went over her slumped shoulders. The gesture was comforting, and the warmth from Sophia's hand soothed her greatly. Seated like this, their height difference didn't matter - Sage felt small, in fact, like a baby chick nestled to its mother hen.
"I wouldn't blame you if you did. My brother's so much better than I, and you're in t-the same House… it makes sense that you would-" Sage felt her lower lip quiver, and she hated it so, this much emotion was unlike her at all.
In fact, she needn't even worry. Sophia seemed to sense her fears and was way ahead of her. Oh, thank Merlin! She eyed her friend with wonder, as if unable to believe her words.
"Truly?" Sage didn't mean to doubt Sophia but when one has a brother like Gus, it was natural to feel like a rock next to a jewel. Of course, she didn't like feeling like the lesser Lilly - despite all the fuss she made about one-upping her brother, deep inside was someone who yearned to step out of the hulking shadow she called her worth.
"D'you mean it? Then you'll be stuck with… with this piñata, for as long as you're willing."
@Sophia Nelson
Reducio
sorry... that took longer than it should have! thank you for always being patient!
i want a storm i can dance in. i want an excuse to change my life.
⸙ | replies will be slow-going #698B69
STA 6 | EVA 5 | STR 6 | WIS 8 | ARC 9 | ACC 6
1 Jul 2022, 06:45
Another Lilly!?
Sophia hastily dropped the fork onto the table to wipe bits of sausage from her skirt and the surrounding area. Geez. At this rate, she'd need to go change. Why had she thought that would be a good idea for a demonstration?
Sophia glared at a particularly stubborn stain on the shoulder of her cloak and quickly whipped out her wand, muttering a quiet, yet firm, "Scourgify!"
As the stain departed from her clothing, her attention didn't leave Sage, who was apparently insecure about her brother meeting Sophia? She would have laughed if she hadn't known how serious this was to Sage, and she would never, ever make light of Sage's genuine worries. Still, who would possibly dump Sage as a friend for Gus? Sure, he was nice enough, but he was no Sage.
"I'll always want you around, Sage," Sophia said, her arm resting on Sage's shoulder and attempting to hold the girl close. Her shoulder was getting a bit sore from the angle, but it was a small price to pay!
"Just 'cause we both made Ravenclaw doesn't mean that I'll just toss you aside and spend time with your bro. I mean, you're my first friend in like two years. Maybe before that, honestly. You've been there for me since our first day on the train together, and I'll never not cherish you, Sage," she said, remembering her old wishy-washy muggle friends and realizing just how much of a better friend the girl beside her truly was. Sage was leagues beyond them. "To be honest, though, when you were sorted into Gryffindor and then I wasn't, it felt like the wind was knocked from my lungs. I was afraid you wouldn't want to hang out with me."
Thankfully Sage seemed to get the idea that she was irreplaceable in Sophia's heart, but that didn't mean she was now safe from the redhead's teasing.
"That settles it, then," she said, letting Sage's shoulder go and spreading her arms in ceremonious grandeur. "Henceforth, thou shalt be named as Piñata, for as long as thou shalt live!"
She smiled happily at the nickname and cuddled joyfully onto Sage's shoulder, squeezing the piñata's arm tight.
"My Piñata, that is. Savvy?" she asked teasingly.
@Sage Lilly
Notes:
ReducioYou don't have to apologize, IRL is important too! As always, I cherish the interaction