31 May 2022, 05:48
Crossing house lines
Nick had finally finished his most recent muggle book while laying around the grounds outside of Hogwarts. “Thinking fast and slow (for kids)” A book his father had sent him, the father that he presumed would never stop sending him books that would influence him, but Nick did not mind. It was somewhat annoying however that Nick’s father only ever would send the boy books such as this, not because Nick didn’t enjoy them but because he knew it was his father trying to mold Nick into being what he wanted. It was Nick’s rebellious side showing, wanting something that he didn’t want just to see that his dad could actually be…well…a dad. Yet Nick enjoyed the book, much more than he supposed most other kids would, exploring the idea of how your brain functions at two different paces. It was about coping in the end, and Nick knew it was the best sort of fatherly love he would get so he accepted it.
He made his way into the great hall and towards the dining tables, still mulling over some parts of the book and debating some ideas. Checking his watch, another part of his father he couldn’t but also didn’t want to escape, he realized it was prime dinner time leading to a dining hall that was as busy as usual. Nick made a path down the tables, casually bumping into people while attempting to find a place to sit. He avoided the Gryffindor table for the day remembering his transfiguration professor trying to get the kids to mingle about, he figured why not.
After a couple of minutes of the casual “Sorry” and “My bad’s” Nick managed to plop down at what he knew to be the Ravenclaw table. Thankfully for the boy, it wasn’t uncommon for houses to sit at other tables and he wasn’t immediately chastised for showing up. Nick took a plate and was quickly scanning the table for food that he was in the mood for. There was never a shortage of options, and even if there was it was very easy for something else to appear. Nick realized that amongst all the conversation around the table he had managed to sit next to someone not lost in conversation like many. Not one to avoid making a new friend, especially considering his goal for the year was to spend more time socializing than learning he decided to end her alone time.
“I still can’t believe the amount of food that this place somehow managed to acquire every single day…it's crazy hunh.” Nick said to the girl next to him. He noticed she had darker curly hair that transformed to a silver color at the end, she seemed to be close to his age, maybe a first year as well even though she was, similarly to Nick, taller than most his age. “Would you mind passing the Salmon there? I've been dying for some fish today.” Nick asked following his previous comment while pointing slightly at the salmon making sure to not just stick his hand in the girl's face.
(OOC side note - Nick is reading a dumbed down (fake) version of the book for kids, he is no genius 11 year old reading college psychology.)
@Vittoria Ricci
Live every day like your last while making promises to last forever.
My door is always open for new stories!
31 May 2022, 06:10
Crossing house lines
Vittoria had always adored dinner.
Growing up in Italy had meant home-cooked meals essentially every night, stemming from a rich culture and history of exquisite tastes tailored by each family, carefully tweaked throughout the years and generations as modern components could be added to better enhance each dish, and as ingredients stored for dozens of years ripened and became flavorful enough for each dish.
Dinner was always a massive affair as well, starting early evening with plates and plates of appetizers, then incredibly massive bowls of salads and soups to share with the table, the main course often not hitting the table until much later at night, then passed around, food scooped onto plates in heaping piles and enjoyed among the chatter of friends and family alike.
Hogwarts had been a bit of an adjustment in a bunch of ways.
The main one had been meals.
Of course, the food was incredible- hell, it was magic! Whatever you wanted would appear right in front of you, fresh and hot, and if it didn't, that meant someone else had also wanted it and you could go grab it from there. It was delicious as well, as the house-elves were clearly adept at their jobs.
Still, she couldn't help but find herself occasionally longing for the comfort food of home.
The biggest adjustment regarding meals had been the setting, going from a smallish dining room to an enormous hall, and there was an odd pressure on where to sit.
Most often, Vittoria sat at the Ravenclaw table, no problem with sitting on her own, often finding that people would come up to her and sit next to her to dine with her, something she found magical in its own little way.
So, when she felt a sudden presence next to her where a previously empty seat had been, Vittoria wasn't shocked or surprised much at all, instead a warm smile coming to her face.
"Of course!" she fulfilled his request first, passing over the plate of salmon over to him without complaint, head tilting to look at him, the smile remaining on her face. She didn't so much size him up as she did observe him- oh, Gryffindor. Nice!
"It really is crazy," she agreed, looking at the tables and the food all around them- it really was a lot. "It must be chaos in the kitchens," she joked light-heartedly, brushing her hand off on a napkin before sticking it out, offering a handshake.
"Vittoria's the name! It's nice to meet you...?"
Growing up in Italy had meant home-cooked meals essentially every night, stemming from a rich culture and history of exquisite tastes tailored by each family, carefully tweaked throughout the years and generations as modern components could be added to better enhance each dish, and as ingredients stored for dozens of years ripened and became flavorful enough for each dish.
Dinner was always a massive affair as well, starting early evening with plates and plates of appetizers, then incredibly massive bowls of salads and soups to share with the table, the main course often not hitting the table until much later at night, then passed around, food scooped onto plates in heaping piles and enjoyed among the chatter of friends and family alike.
Hogwarts had been a bit of an adjustment in a bunch of ways.
The main one had been meals.
Of course, the food was incredible- hell, it was magic! Whatever you wanted would appear right in front of you, fresh and hot, and if it didn't, that meant someone else had also wanted it and you could go grab it from there. It was delicious as well, as the house-elves were clearly adept at their jobs.
Still, she couldn't help but find herself occasionally longing for the comfort food of home.
The biggest adjustment regarding meals had been the setting, going from a smallish dining room to an enormous hall, and there was an odd pressure on where to sit.
Most often, Vittoria sat at the Ravenclaw table, no problem with sitting on her own, often finding that people would come up to her and sit next to her to dine with her, something she found magical in its own little way.
So, when she felt a sudden presence next to her where a previously empty seat had been, Vittoria wasn't shocked or surprised much at all, instead a warm smile coming to her face.
"Of course!" she fulfilled his request first, passing over the plate of salmon over to him without complaint, head tilting to look at him, the smile remaining on her face. She didn't so much size him up as she did observe him- oh, Gryffindor. Nice!
"It really is crazy," she agreed, looking at the tables and the food all around them- it really was a lot. "It must be chaos in the kitchens," she joked light-heartedly, brushing her hand off on a napkin before sticking it out, offering a handshake.
"Vittoria's the name! It's nice to meet you...?"
WC: 420
@Nick Lemond
Abilities: Lovely Creature
Stamina: 5 | Evasion: 2 | Strength: 5 | Wisdom: 7 | Arcane Power: 9 | Accuracy: 7
31 May 2022, 16:04
Crossing house lines
Nick graciously accepted the plate as the girl passed it him without hesitation. She seemed friendly, a delight to Nick as it sort of made it easier to befriend people when they were nice....surprise. It had seemed more common at Hogwarts than muggle school that people were nice. In muggle school bullies seemed more common than the school of magic, but in general people also just seemed meaner. He was curious if it was because magic just made life more enjoyable, it made sense considering all the possibilities in life that came with magic.
Nick chuckled at the girls joke "Im sure it is." It was a funny thought to imagine a kitchen full of house elves running about trying to make this many dishes, he assumed it was likely that magic was far more involved however than the images in his head would show.
Sticking his hand out Nick shook the girls hand as the two exchanged greetings "My names Nick! I am a first year here and someone who is starving for a meal." Nick put a piece of salmon on his plate before placing it at an empty spot in front of him. He reached and grabbed a spoonful of some rice and plopped it on his plate as well before cutting into the salmon and taking a bite.
It was everything he imagined it would be, flaky, flavorful and never dry. Sometimes when ordering salmon at a restaurant one could get a piece that was dry and it was rather disgusting, something Nick would never mind complaining about to get something new. But these house elves really knew what they were doing, anything Nick had ever liked and tried again at Hogwarts so far was some of the most amazing foods he had ever eaten, and he could not wait to live with it for the next seven years. Though he would be incredibly sad when it was all gone and he had to cook for himself.
After finishing his first bite and swallowing the boy decided to pipe up again "So Vittoria what is a nice raven claw doing sitting alone during dinner time?" He asked playfully. She seemed nice enough to make friends easily that it was surprising she wasn't with anyone, but at the same time Nick considering himself to be nice and yet he was alone. Some people preferred to be that way though, instead deciding to live in their own thoughts, something Nick understood far to well.
@Vittoria Ricci
Live every day like your last while making promises to last forever.
My door is always open for new stories!
31 May 2022, 17:44
Crossing house lines
Vittoria had a light smile on her lips as she turned away from the boy briefly, pulling over a floating platter of pork chops for herself to eat, neatly sliding it onto her plate with risotto on the side of it, topping it all off with a slice of freshly baked bread, stomach growling a little at the mere sight of it. Tne food here really was quite adequete.
"Nick. That's a nice name," the Ravenclaw complimented easily, tapping the table for a second before picking up her fork, preparing to delve in, pausing at the question.
What was she doing sitting alone? That one was easy enough.
"Oh- I just prefer to let people come to me," she began, setting her fork down neatly. "That way, nobody feels uncomfortable if they're having a bad day and I join them, or anything like that. And if someone wants to sit by me, then they can!"
She finished off her little ramble with a smile, picking up her goblet to drink from it.
"So, Nick, what brings you next to me today?" she asked, voice a little teasing but more so of genuine curiosity. She had some "regulars" that would come sit by her, but she was fairly sure she hadn't seen the Gryffindor before- maybe they had a class together or something she was forgetting.
"Nick. That's a nice name," the Ravenclaw complimented easily, tapping the table for a second before picking up her fork, preparing to delve in, pausing at the question.
What was she doing sitting alone? That one was easy enough.
"Oh- I just prefer to let people come to me," she began, setting her fork down neatly. "That way, nobody feels uncomfortable if they're having a bad day and I join them, or anything like that. And if someone wants to sit by me, then they can!"
She finished off her little ramble with a smile, picking up her goblet to drink from it.
"So, Nick, what brings you next to me today?" she asked, voice a little teasing but more so of genuine curiosity. She had some "regulars" that would come sit by her, but she was fairly sure she hadn't seen the Gryffindor before- maybe they had a class together or something she was forgetting.
WC:225
@Nick Lemond
Last edited by Vittoria Ricci on 1 Jun 2022, 15:51, edited 1 time in total.
Abilities: Lovely Creature
Stamina: 5 | Evasion: 2 | Strength: 5 | Wisdom: 7 | Arcane Power: 9 | Accuracy: 7
1 Jun 2022, 02:38
Crossing house lines
Nick stabbed another piece of salmon with his fork while following it up with some rice on the end of the fork as he took another bite while the girl responded. A quick "Thank you" came from his lips when she said it was a nice name. He rarely received that compliment, always thinking his parents had named him so blandly. The boy himself would know it but his cheeks had reddened as he blushed at the random compliment, something he was sadly unused to receiving.
Nick listened intently smiling and nodding as the girl spoke as he paid close attention even while he was eating and filling the stomach that had only moments again been kicking him painfully to eat. As the girl finished Nick took a quick drink from the goblet in front of him that simply contained water for the boy.
"I get that, you seem like a sweet person, thats comforting to hear. Where I come from most people seem rather standoffish so someone like you is quite the gem to me." Nick said casually but with a smile. Nick thought about his reply carefully, part of him wanted to playfully joke with the girl and part of him wanted to also say the truth, that it was more of a coincidence than anything. Nick chose the former.
"Well, I saw this girl sitting all alone and she looked so nice and sweet that I just wanted to sit down next to her and see if shed give me the time of day." He said looking away. If the girl took it poorly he definitely did not want to be caught making eye contact. He was never really one to compliment people as it wasn't something he was used to, so it just felt sort of....odd. "Luckily in the end I was right it seems, now I have me some salmon and some nice conversation." He quickly chimed in after.
@Vittoria Ricci
Live every day like your last while making promises to last forever.
My door is always open for new stories!
1 Jun 2022, 15:56
Crossing house lines
Vittoria was always the kind of person who smiled, and right now she found that she couldn't stop, heart a little warmed by the boy in front of her.
Now, she was no stranger to compliments. She received them all the time, truly, and yet would always still find them to be absolutely lovely to receive and hear. Most often, they'd be about appearance- hair, eyes, outfit, jewelry, the like.
Compliments about her personality? Much rarer.
"Aw, thank you," Vittoria giggled, face flushing the slightest bit pink at Nick's kind words, carefully taking a sip from her goblet. "Aw, that sucks. Where are you from where people are so mean?"
Her head tilted a bit as she listened to his explanation, flush deepening. She had never been the best at receiving compliments, no matter how often it happened.
"O-oh," she stammered a little, smile growing wider as she brushed back a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"Well, I'll always give you the time of day!" she laughed a little once he was done, cutting a slice of her pork chop neatly before biting into it, chewing and swallowing before setting down her fork again, taking another sip from her drink.
"And I find that conversation makes for a better meal than any food in the world."
Now, she was no stranger to compliments. She received them all the time, truly, and yet would always still find them to be absolutely lovely to receive and hear. Most often, they'd be about appearance- hair, eyes, outfit, jewelry, the like.
Compliments about her personality? Much rarer.
"Aw, thank you," Vittoria giggled, face flushing the slightest bit pink at Nick's kind words, carefully taking a sip from her goblet. "Aw, that sucks. Where are you from where people are so mean?"
Her head tilted a bit as she listened to his explanation, flush deepening. She had never been the best at receiving compliments, no matter how often it happened.
"O-oh," she stammered a little, smile growing wider as she brushed back a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"Well, I'll always give you the time of day!" she laughed a little once he was done, cutting a slice of her pork chop neatly before biting into it, chewing and swallowing before setting down her fork again, taking another sip from her drink.
"And I find that conversation makes for a better meal than any food in the world."
Abilities: Lovely Creature
Stamina: 5 | Evasion: 2 | Strength: 5 | Wisdom: 7 | Arcane Power: 9 | Accuracy: 7
1 Jun 2022, 18:43
Crossing house lines
Nick was happy that the comment seemed to go over well, from what he understood a giggle was generally a good sign.
"I am from Birmingham, but its not exactly so much the kids I went to school with really just....other people." Nick didn't exactly feel like displaying the fact that his father had never once complimented him in his life and that was in reality all he wanted. He had been told he was a good baseball player for instance, or teachers would say he was a good student. But since he didn't really hold much of a social life due to being busy he didn't really talk to many new kids, especially girls his age. And guys weren't the best at complimenting.
Vittoria seemed happy though as Nick could see the smile on her face grow wider out of the corner of his eye. And her follow up remark was nice as well making Nick feel warm. Part of Nick wondered if she really was as sweet as she was coming off or if it was an act. He quickly shook the thought away, it was a dumb thought to even have. And he was happy to feel good about himself, a smile on his face as the girl laughed.
"Well then I must be one lucky boy to cross paths with such an amazing girl then hunh. Though I do agree good conversation makes any meal better." Nick had almost forgot about the food on his plate throughout the little interaction, opting again to take a couple bites before piping up again.
"So what does Vittoria normally do after dinner, hangout with a nice boy that she randomly met during dinner by chance?" Nick asked with a smile. He felt like the girl would be a nice person to be around, he had already planned on making more of a social life than he had at muggle school and it seemed like he'd hit the bullseye this time around. As long as he didn't scare the girl away.
@Vittoria Ricci
Live every day like your last while making promises to last forever.
My door is always open for new stories!
1 Jun 2022, 20:41
Crossing house lines
Vittoria ate as she listened to him talk, thoughts mulling in her brain a little. Birmingham... yeah, she was pretty sure she heard of there before. Pretty sure. Geography had never been her best subject, but when it came to UK geography, things could get much more convoluted and confusing for her. That was okay, though.
She was more curious about the school part, though. She had been homeschooled for her elementary career and had never really had a big school experience outside of now Hogwarts, and the wizarding school was certainly different than an ordinary one. She was fairly certain that the majority of schools weren't in massive castles.
She zoned out for a second, trying to picture it all in her mind, the Ravenclaw's thoughts racing. She tuned out a little of what he said, feeling bad immediately afterwards- ignoring people was generally not something polite to do. All she caught was something about... after dinner? Hanging out?
'Get it together, Vittoria,' she scolded herself mentally, making herself snap out of it, eyes clearing.
"Oh- uh, yeah, I could do that! Normally I just go up to the dormitories and work on some of my homework for the night, but I don't have much tonight and I wake up early anyways..." she trailed off, looking at him.
She was more curious about the school part, though. She had been homeschooled for her elementary career and had never really had a big school experience outside of now Hogwarts, and the wizarding school was certainly different than an ordinary one. She was fairly certain that the majority of schools weren't in massive castles.
She zoned out for a second, trying to picture it all in her mind, the Ravenclaw's thoughts racing. She tuned out a little of what he said, feeling bad immediately afterwards- ignoring people was generally not something polite to do. All she caught was something about... after dinner? Hanging out?
'Get it together, Vittoria,' she scolded herself mentally, making herself snap out of it, eyes clearing.
"Oh- uh, yeah, I could do that! Normally I just go up to the dormitories and work on some of my homework for the night, but I don't have much tonight and I wake up early anyways..." she trailed off, looking at him.
WC: 219
@Nick Lemond
Abilities: Lovely Creature
Stamina: 5 | Evasion: 2 | Strength: 5 | Wisdom: 7 | Arcane Power: 9 | Accuracy: 7
2 Jun 2022, 03:05
Crossing house lines
Nick was relieved that Vittoria seemed to be open to hanging out afterward and though he looked forward to it he had also yet to finish the food that he had been wanting so bad for the last solid hour or two and he did not plan on leaving before finishing by any means.
"Well I am glad then that its a light night for you then. Seems I keep getting lucky these past few minutes." The boy said smiling, mostly to himself. Though he knew that had she had homework Nick probably would have tried to see if they could do it together or something. After all first years generally had the same homework, maybe they'd become study buddies.
"I wake up pretty early a lot too, though I normally go to bed late too." The boy chuckled rubbing the back of his head knowing that the amount of sleep he got regularly was rather unhealthy for a kid, but he was used to it over the years. "When I was back home I would stay up real late and read a book, lots of times I would stay up too late for my own good." After a pause Nick continued "What about Vittoria, does my lovely dinner partner enjoy books, or maybe other hobbies?" He questioned, taking one of the last few bites of the salmon in front of him.
@Vittoria Ricci
Live every day like your last while making promises to last forever.
My door is always open for new stories!
2 Jun 2022, 03:28
Crossing house lines
Vittoria grinned, shrugging. "Eh... books are less my style. Some of 'em are good though."
She paused for a moment as she thought, eating in the relative silence of their conversation. She really didn't have many hobbies- she hadn't found her "thing" quite yet, explored many clubs, or joined any sports. It just wasn't for her, for now. She was sure she'd be able to get into more stuff at Hogwarts soon, because there was a lot to do.
"I mean..." she started slowly, trying to get all her thoughts in order. "It's not really a hobby, but I'm very much a morning person. I like going on walks and runs and stuff in the morning." Vittoria shrugged again, smile a little more shy now.
"Working out is fun too, but there's not much of that in the wizarding world- or at least at Hogwarts. Not that I could find." Back at home, she practically had to bed her parents for a pair of muggle weights- they seemed fun to her at the time, and they still did now. It was just something she found nice to do, rewarding, even.
"So you're big into reading?" she asked, curious. "What books?"
She paused for a moment as she thought, eating in the relative silence of their conversation. She really didn't have many hobbies- she hadn't found her "thing" quite yet, explored many clubs, or joined any sports. It just wasn't for her, for now. She was sure she'd be able to get into more stuff at Hogwarts soon, because there was a lot to do.
"I mean..." she started slowly, trying to get all her thoughts in order. "It's not really a hobby, but I'm very much a morning person. I like going on walks and runs and stuff in the morning." Vittoria shrugged again, smile a little more shy now.
"Working out is fun too, but there's not much of that in the wizarding world- or at least at Hogwarts. Not that I could find." Back at home, she practically had to bed her parents for a pair of muggle weights- they seemed fun to her at the time, and they still did now. It was just something she found nice to do, rewarding, even.
"So you're big into reading?" she asked, curious. "What books?"
WC: 200
@Nick Lemond
Abilities: Lovely Creature
Stamina: 5 | Evasion: 2 | Strength: 5 | Wisdom: 7 | Arcane Power: 9 | Accuracy: 7