Closed Nothing All At Once. PV Avery

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	----- Ever was he, to traipse the halls after curfew. It was a habit that had started during his prefecthood; the freedom of the castle was what he enjoyed most of all, he just couldn't give that up alongside his badge when Prof. Wickham-Deakin asked him to return the latter. A big part of him was still salty about it, but he'd had half a term to brood and mourn that loss- well, it wasn't much of a loss because in the time he was a prefect, he developed a decent idea about how and when he could get away with rule breaking. Tonight wasn't any particular rule breaking, he just found that he needed to exercise his restless legs; or he'd subconsciously decided to stave off the nightmares that he'd been having. With his trusty rubber ball, he made his way through the castle, bouncing his ball off of the floor as he went to keep his mind occupied; the rhythmic bounce helping him get lost in his thoughts as he'd hoped; but then of course he was lost in the castle; before happening unto the Ballroom. "Uh oh..." Avery gave in a troubling tone; as he would any who he'd catch on his patrols. He was only a first year at the time, but that just meant he had to use every tool of intimidation he could. His wolfish look soon evaporated. "My my my..." He gave once he closed the heavy doors behind him, a large grin plastering his features as he made the familiar blonde. "Another miscreant no-gooder? - Colour me amazed to find none other than, the one and only, June Selwyn." He gave in a theatrical flutter as he walked over to greet her. Careful, dark, eyes scanned her for brief insight into her mood; it'd obviously been a bit of a heavier year for her; and he didn't want to make it any heavier. Bollocks to that, he thought. "Well if you want to survive, you've got to share..." He beamed again, this time letting on his playful intent. "Last I checked, the tax was two sticky caramels and a marshmallow biscuit but I suppose because it's you, I can let you off with a chocolate rocher and a joke? Or a riddle? Or whatever it is that's got you staring at- wait, what were you staring at?" He looked between her and the tall ballroom ceiling, losing himself when his gaze went skyward for a momen,t before it returned down to the floor, to her. Whichever way she opted to step, was surely a win for him; though he was hoping to lighten her mood should it seem overly dour.
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8th Dec | Ballroom
Avery's Hex #136b5c
wc: 461

Interacting with: @June Selwyn

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	----- Expertly, Avery caught it as though his hand was guided to the projectile rocher. "Nice." was probably the only exclamation of joy she’d heard from the boy; odd and muted, but appreciative all the same as he began to unwrap the precious chocolate to place it into his mouth. As he crushed it in his mouth he looked up at the ceiling again to ponder her question; the pensive look that came over his face was sure to validate it and yet he didn’t rush to pay forward his two pennies, instead enjoying the indulgence of delicate velvety chocolate and its nutty harmonies. "Well I wouldn’t leave you here alone…" He smiled again, before lowering himself into folded legs; not yet keen on getting too comfortable; it was the floor after all. "Didn’t you know?" He gave a small laugh. "By the beard, how long have you been here? I reckon it’s- well it’s got to be well after midnight." Avery shook his head, though remembering that he too often lost track of time; beholden to burden. Though when she asked why he was awake; he instinctively tried to come up with an excuse, a lie. Part of him was reluctant to tell her the truth, but not for any malicious or untrusting reason: the girl owed him, but because burdening her probably wasn’t a good idea; what with their new and budding friendship. Behind his smile there was a lingering pain; hidden in the darks of his eyes. "Hah, well that’s one thing I never told a soul. I’m the Honeyduke Highwayman, now give up the goods!" He laughed then, returning the mischievous, playful, look. Though it wasn’t proper to laugh at one's own jokes, he rather enjoyed the brief mental imagery of his could-be other life. When offered though, he showed a palm as if to say: no thank you, or not now. "I’d put money on us being fine until the early hours, I reckon. - I didn’t know you were such an avid- cleaner? Or is it that you’ve a fear of spiders which has you so concerned about the ceiling." He looked up again, this time a little bit longer as if to make any of the beasties out; catching himself gazing at the enchanted ceiling. She had once, unknowingly, needed his guidance and advice, but tonight he reckoned the company was just enough; so he continued in kind and slowly slid himself to lay on the floor as she did.
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8th Dec | Ballroom
Avery's Hex #136b5c
wc: 447

Interacting with: @June Selwyn

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	----- Avery adopted a most ludicrous pout, and an equally ludicrous French accent when she said she didn’t want to think too hard. “Ouf! Zut alors! - I am made! Spare me kind lady, I do it for my poor papa!” Avery pleaded, an excellent caricature come to life. His smile was warm and genuine, laughing a little more after a pause; as if he’d humoured himself but only just caught on a few moments later, as he folded his arms behind his head and looked skyward. “Yet being ze key word, mon cherí!” His laugh trailed off, time to end that gimmick there, he thought. “In all seriousness, I’m no longer a prefect, but aside from that, it’s been rather uneventful. - I’ve uh- well I’ve had trouble sleeping but it hasn’t affected my grades or anything.” He cast an askance look, over to her, from their strange top-and-tail, supine, position. He didn’t want her to ask, or did he? Would he tell her? No probably not, but it was the truth and something about her made him: truthful. “What about you? It’s- It’s uh, been a while.” Avery wasn’t usually awkward like this, but how did one politely refer to the aftermath of her mother’s infidelity? A complicated business, for the pair that craved uncomplication, just now.
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8th Dec | Ballroom
Avery's Hex #136b5c
wc: 236

Interacting with: @June Selwyn

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	----- His smile remained even as her laughter trailed, unaware of its charm. “Nothing quite that bad, no. Though perhaps for the opposite reason.- And excuse me, I’ll have you know; Merlin Dormitory has a reputation to maintain, that being the Dormitory of the most academically successful, tight-lipped, uninteresting corps of the student body.” Though it was said in a humorous tone, he believed every word of it. “Though if you must know, and in your complete confidence as I break the Merlin code; it’s woeful …” Avery beamed a grin, reaching for another sweet treat. How unfortunate that he had rediscovered his sweet-tooth ever since that slumber party. His pause was the perfect time for her to tell her tales of her racing, to which he leant an ear as best as he could as he sucked a toffee. The pale lad’s face spoke of his empathy to the loss, the mild panic induced in every high-achieving student when faced with the prospect of averages. “Well that’s grim. - What’s going wrong there then mm?” He said, mostly to himself as his mind almost automatically began to work on a problem that wasn’t his to solve. It took him a few moments to come back to the room, glancing at her again. “There’s always the next two. - Tell that Vale to sign up to double practice or kick them off the team.” Avery shrugged, ruthless and brutal as it was; seemingly the most obvious course of action. “My duel didn’t go too well either.” he glossed over, after a pause. He covered a sneer when she mentioned potions, remembering the hallway altercation with Finnegan and his hapless attempt at charming him, something he wouldn’t touch on as he tongue the toffee from his teeth now. He hadn’t ended up in the hospital wing though… “Mm- well let me know if you want their dorm trashed… Avery smirked. He wasn’t too au fait with that kind of skullduggery, but he was sure he could find a way; what with his current machinations. Her comment acted as an anchor, pulling him back to less exciting plots. “New year, new page and a win. Sounds doable.” he said, laboured. “What are you gonna do differently?” he gave once his teeth were free.
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8th Dec | Ballroom
Avery's Hex #136b5c
wc: 420

Interacting with: @June Selwyn