6 Aug 2023, 20:43
The Last Party
| ====CATRIONA PRESCOTT. | @August Turner== 560== |
── summer, 2023Catriona had always hated these social events that her parents had forced her to attend. In reality, it was just a bunch of withering adults cradling champagne, poised unnaturally, discussing topics that were, in Catriona's opinion, rather boring. She'd spend a few hours following her parents and brother around, and sometimes, sneak off with her sister. Her parents often found her quite quickly when she did. It was as if they had a sense of when Catriona was getting into trouble. She found it rather annoying. It always boiled down to the same things.
She tugged uncomfortably at the long gloves on her arms, which reached up to her elbows. She needed to cover them up, she knew, but it didn't make them any less itchy. She desperately wanted to pry them off—but knew she couldn't. Instead, she'd have to suffer silently.
Though Catriona wasn't one to get bored easily, these parties were like a recipe for miserableness. She didn't even know whose manor they were at this time. It was one of her parents' old friends, probably, someone she should recognize. Most of them had children that were her age, and though some were rather stuck-up and annoying, just like their parents, others she found pretty good company. It wasn't as if she had many options, anyways. Her parents didn't like the idea of their children mingling with the 'wrong company,' at least according to them. Most of Catriona's interactions with others were monitored, or at least made aware to her parents. It was important that Catriona followed in their footsteps. At least to them.
Catriona herself wasn't sure of where she stood. After everything that had happened in the past year, she should hate her parents. And she did, she thought. But there had always been some innate desire in her to please them, to follow their commands and be their perfect daughter, just like her brother. She had rebelled in every way she could, but still, sometimes, she wanted to listen to what they told her to do. She was still trying to let go of some of the views that she had been brought up with, at least before Hogwarts, but it was hard to let go of things that had been ingrained in her. Her mannerisms, tactics, and skills were still perfect, just like they'd been taught to her.
This was the last party she had to attend before she and Niamh would be off to Hogwarts. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't excited to stop coming to these so often.
Still, she was getting rather bored. Catriona began looking around for someone to entertain her. She wasn't someone who usually wanted to start conversations, but with people that she'd known for ages—the few of them she was decidedly close with—she found conversation to be enlightening.
"August, there you are. I've been looking everywhere." August Turner, a boy who was at these events just as often as she was. The Turners and Prescotts were close friends, and she'd visited their manor several times growing up. August too had grown up with similar views to his parents, but after years of knowing him, she found herself comfortable with him. He was also boarding the train in the fall. "Are you excited? For Hogwarts."
in the wake of a hurricane / dark skin of a summer shade
7 Aug 2023, 13:29
The Last Party
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August sighed heavily. Lately it had seemed like he was being dragged to endless parties and manors for his father's work. His father had explained to him countless times why attendance to such things were necessary, and August wanted nothing more than to be respected by the pureblood society. However, these things tended to become tedious and exhausting after a while.
When he began his first year of Hogwarts come September, he would be in the clear. No more parties until the inescapable annual ball his father hosted at their manor. He was dreading it, but perhaps that was only because he was stuck in this stifling party and it couldn't come to a close soon enough for him.
He made unfortunate eye contact with one of the older women at the party and grimaced as she made her way over all too happily. After a few torturous moments of being fussed over, the woman took her leave and rejoined the festivities. What had she taken him for? A two year old? Just as he thought the night could not possibly get worse, he spotted his father weaving through the crowd. He would've rather taken the old woman.
"What do you think you are doing? Have I not told you that you must mingle and assert your influence at these events? I will not have you soil our family name by cowering in a corner the entire time. Now go."
His father turned his back on August and disappeared back into the crowd of people. August was many things, but he was no coward and would not be a disappointment either. He scanned the mass of guests, looking for someone he could talk to like his father wished. Before he could find a single person he recognized, a familiar voice rang out nearby.
He whirled around, his face lighting up. A rare occurrence for the boy. Making deep and lasting friendships wasn't really his thing, but this girl was different.
"Thank goodness, Cat," he said with a smile. Catriona's family and his had been friends for ages. August had practically grown up with her. "I've been looking for you as well. I can't begin to tell you how glad I am to see you." He hoped his relief at her arrival showed just how genuine he was.
"I'm excited, yes. I can only hope I end up in Slytherin like my father. What about you? What house are you hoping for?"
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SPECIES: HUMAN | ABILITIES: CHARMER
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STA • 9 | EVA • 7 | STR • 1 | WIS • 6 | ARC • 4 | ACC • 8
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| sta • 9 | eva • 7 | str • 1 STAR⠀CREATIONS wis • 6 | arc • 4 | acc • 8 | charmer | ability | ability THROUGH⠀THE⠀YEARS ability | ability | ability |
10 Aug 2023, 22:53
The Last Party
| ====CATRIONA PRESCOTT. | @August Turner== 546== |
── summer, 2023Catriona couldn't help but to be a bit amused at August's reaction. "I can tell," she said with a small smile. "It is a bit stuffy in here, isn't it?" She knew that sort of feeling all too well. In this sea of people, August too was a relief to talk to. There weren't many people that a person knew quite as well as they did the ones they'd known for what felt like forever. Catriona hadn't had many friends her age as a child, so the few that she did, she treasured well. Though there wasn't anyone that she thought could compete with her twin sister, she'd always had a soft spot for the few other pureblood children she'd befriended.
There were some that she hadn't become friends with, for various reasons. It wasn't as if she was exactly willing to become friends with just about anyone. Even though she hadn't grown up surrounded by other children, she had always had her twin sister. Catriona and Niamh were two peas in a pod, and even though at times they hadn't agreed on certain topics, they had always had each other. And while no one would ever be able to be as close with Catriona as Neve was, she could say that she enjoyed their company and liked spending time with them.
Others were uptight and downright rude. Catriona found that often, children that grew up in a wealthy family had some sort of idea that they were above everyone else. While her parents were chatting with their friends, she was forced to deal with being bossed and ordered around, doing whatever the other child wanted in order to appease her parents. It could be miserable at times, which is why when she would be with people like August, she was incredibly relieved. And now, many years later, she knew who to avoid at these parties.
At August's question, she began to reply, but faltered. The Prescotts, just like the other pureblood families, had a long history of being in Slytherin. Both of Catriona's parents had been Slytherin alumni, and her brother, Alexander, was also in Slytherin. It only made sense for her to answer accordingly.
The truth was, she didn't really know what house she wanted to be in. Slytherin would have been the obvious choice for her a year ago, but now, she didn't really know what she wanted. Catriona didn't feel particularly brave, or fair, or wise, or cunning. She didn't feel like she had somewhere that felt right, maybe not just yet, and this was what stumped her. All Catriona knew was that she didn't want to be like her parents, and she didn't want to be a copy of them.
But no one outside of their family really knew what had happened in the past year. Everything had been kept secret, and for all the rest of the families knew, the Prescotts were still as perfect as they had ever been. No one was aware of what their family was hiding, and Catriona knew she wasn't about to tell.
"Slytherin, of course." There was a pause that seemed a little long. "I want to be in Slytherin," she said a bit more forcefully, as if she were trying to convince herself.
in the wake of a hurricane / dark skin of a summer shade
31 Aug 2023, 00:56
The Last Party
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August felt a small blush come to surface at his rather conspicuous reaction to finding a familiar face. The iron fist of his father's rules sprang into his mind as they tended to whenever he made even the tiniest of mistakes. When in public, especially that of pureblood company, he was never supposed to show any sign of weakness. According to his father, emotions such as relief were weak. A Turner was supposed to be able to shoulder anything without blinking an eye in discomfort.
Of course, August, still being young, was bound to slip up now and again. It was a bit too much for his or his father's liking however. He hoped that when he started Hogwarts, he was sorted into Slytherin immediately. That would be a good start for living up to all of the expectations placed upon him. It seemed like pureblood children always had so much to live up to, so many people not to disappoint. All in all, it could be a bit much to handle at times. One had to live a little.
In reply to Catriona, August said, "More than a bit stuffy, I'd say. All these people crammed into this room..." His sentence trailed off into nothingness as he glanced around the room once, making sure his father was safely out of sight, as well as anyone else he might recognize. With a start, he realized his thoughts made it seem like he didn't want to be here. He reminded himself quickly that he was home here. These people, this society, this was where he belonged. He had a legacy to live up to. He would never want to know what life was like growing up without magic, practically a muggle, really.
Maybe there was a part of him, a very, very small part, that hungered for a different life than the direction his seemed to be going. Yes, he did want to be an important figure in pureblood society and remain in high standings. However, he also wanted to make a real difference in the magical world. It sounded so stereotypical, but he wanted to do something to change the world for the better and be remembered. He wanted adventure in his life, not sitting behind a desk at the Ministry forever. They were just dreams though. Dreams that would never be fulfilled.
Catriona replied to his question with the expected answer of Slytherin, but somehow it just seemed off. Perhaps it was her tone or the long pause she took, but something didn't seem quite right. "You sure about that?" he asked. His tone was teasing, but there were underlying hints of concern for his friend. He wanted to be sure that everything was alright for her. Wanting to keep the atmosphere of their conversation relaxed though, he teased, "Maybe you're secretly hoping to be a Gryffindor."
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SPECIES: HUMAN | ABILITIES: CHARMER
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STA • 9 | EVA • 7 | STR • 1 | WIS • 6 | ARC • 4 | ACC • 8
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| sta • 9 | eva • 7 | str • 1 STAR⠀CREATIONS wis • 6 | arc • 4 | acc • 8 | charmer | ability | ability THROUGH⠀THE⠀YEARS ability | ability | ability |