25 Jan 2024, 10:13
Us? Related?! WHAT?!
Interactions ❯❯ @Alyssea Brown | @Astra Norrick | @
Mentions ❯❯ @ | @ | @
❂《 ⌜ December 31, 2023 ▎ 7 PM - 1 AM ⌟▛▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔Guests, Family Reunion, just the idea is giving Raizel a headache. Sure, a New Year's Eve party with family is a great idea. Time to bond with each other and have fun but after her experience with her grandmother, she'd rather not have any other relatives, especially those that she's only hearing about now. A pained groan escaped her, dressing up in a plain black jacket and a red shirt underneath, complete with black pants, a bracelet that she just got from her father and black sneakers.
Does she have to do this? She wondered with a tired, no, exhausted look in her amber eyes. Well, even before this day, she had been exhausted and she would rather not have added more to it. She wants peace, stay in her room, maybe do a couple of spell research as that's the only thing that catches her attention right now, heck, she didn't even frown when her mom confiscated her wand which was unusual. She would usually be reluctant but she wasn't in any mood for that. No, she doesn't even want to hold that wand for now. Just bringing back bad memories.
While she was acting weird as what her father pointed out, she swears to him that she's fine but really, she's not. Tons of things going on but she would rather keep those to herself. Now, back to the current situation, Family Reunion. Again, she groaned and then sighed, fixing up her jacket. Well, her parents seem excited for this… this reunion so maybe… these guys are okay but of course, she's not gonna let her guard down just because of that.
Raizel went downstairs, seeing how her parents had just finished preparing whatever was needed for this reunion and New Year's Party, watching as her mother finished up the delicacies to be served for their guests with her brother holding onto her legs. She could hear her talking to her sibling, probably telling him to wait before he could try the food. Eyes then fell on the man, dressed in casual clothings. This isn't some fancy party after all, it's just them and relatives. Relatives that she hopes aren't like her horrible grandmother. If she didn't meet her, then maybe her life would've been more peaceful and she wouldn't have been over conscious of herself, her performance and her skills. In short, that meeting ruined her until this day, adding to the fact that she's a bundle of misfortune.
“Ready?” Her father's voice reached her ears, the question alone making her grimaced mentally. If she were to be honest… no, she wasn't. She wasn't ready. But as she doesn't want to be more of a disappointment, she simply shrugged before answering.
“Yeah… I guess.” Might as well get this over with then maybe she could return to her room and stay there for the rest of her vacation.
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««««« Dialogue | #800000 | Ravi #4A0404 | Michelle #C21E56
INVENTORY
Oziel Toussaint | Miharu Goto
STA: 7| EVA: 12| STR: 3| WIS: 12| ARC: 10| ACC: 13
Perfectionist I | Fearless | Wandmaker | Terrible Presence
26 Jan 2024, 08:26
Us? Related?! WHAT?!
Alyssea was glad for a change to their New Year's celebration. Christmas had been a quiet affair and nothing spectacular (minus going to Clark's house; that was a horrible mistake). Yesterday, she went ice skating with her brother and, when they arrived home, her mother told her they had plans to meet her cousins for New Year's.december 31st 2023; interacting with @Raizel Voltrouz and @Astra Norrick
This was new. Their mother hardly ever talked about her family, let alone mention any cousins. Alyssea couldn't even remember if she had a brother; she was pretty sure her mother had a brother but it had been so long since they were last mentioned that Alyssea thought they were just a figment of her imagination.
Did her mother's cousins have children? Alyssea kind of hoped they did so she wouldn't awkwardly scroll on her phone until midnight rolled around. Another boring way of celebrating a big day. Alyssea looked outside the window as they drove up to Oxford. It was long and her bum was getting sore from sitting already. She didn't listen to her mom's recollections of her youth with her cousins. A fatal mistake considering what would come next.
Eventually, they pulled up to a rural stone cottage. All Alyssea could think was 'cute'. It was a very nice house with two floors and an attic(?) from what she could see. It was definitely bigger than the detached unit that the Browns were living in. There were also a lot of plants. She could feel her nose getting itchy seeing the plants. She inhaled deeply. Hopefully her nose wouldn't act up.
Alyssea pocketed her phone and exited the car, throwing the car door with some force. While her mother and brother headed towards the door, her father waited for her and locked the car when she arrived at his side.
What could possibly go wrong?
(A lot, but she wouldn't know it yet.)
“I hope she'll be a fool — that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
29 Jan 2024, 17:30
Us? Related?! WHAT?!
rah
Hyperion - Morella -Roderick - Astra
@Raizel Voltrouz - @Alyssea Brown
Hyperion - Morella -Roderick - Astra
@Raizel Voltrouz - @Alyssea Brown
Why was it that all the important things happened during mornings where Astra was tired? Sure, she'd stayed up a bit long reading, and yes, a bit long meant way more than a bit, but she had gone to bed before midnight! She had gotten at least six hours of sleep.
Her body did not care, however, as it was still a child's body and craved sleep with an insatiable thirst. Eight hours was its minimum, and it knew no limits otherwise. It was very displeased with six.
The morning of New Year's Eve was sluggish for the whole Norrick family. Hyperion had been called in for some last minute paperwork last night and was sleeping in. Roderick was a teenager, and therefore believed he was entitled to sleep till noon if he so desired, and Morella was happy with the peace and quiet of early morning.
Morella was actually very happy. Visibly happy. Something not often seen in Astra's regularly tired mother, tired of the seemingly futile efforts in both her workplace and in steering her children away from mischief-making and chaotic neutral deeds.
At lunchtime, when everyone was up and functioning reasonably well, Morella spilled the beans. “We’re going to have a bit of a different New Year's Eve this year,” she said, sipping her glass of water. “We're going to my cousin's house.”
“You have cousins?” Astra asked, almost incredulous. While the Norrick side of the family was sort of large and rather close, the Rogers side was not so. Astra did remember Uncle Matthew, just a little, but he had been estranged from the family for a while now. Something about his wife being a squib.
“Yes I have cousins, and we're going to spend New Year's Eve with them.” The scientist would not divulge any more information to her prying children, saying “You'll see” in response to their every inquiry.
Hyperion immediately suggested they floo over to Souldern, which was immediately rejected by Morella, who got motion sickness from the floo. Instead, she insisted they take the car, since they'd be traveling through Muggle areas, and it needed a good long drive. Oh, stop complaining, Hyperion, it would only be an hour and Morella would drive the entire way.
And so they loaded up into the car and drove the hour or so it took to get to Souldern. A long, boring ride during which Astra read or passed notes with Roderick. They were loathe to speak aloud during such a silent ride, lest their parents overhear and butt into these jokes and plots and plans.
They pulled up to a stone cottage with a very cottagecore feel, something Astra thought her Aunt Seren would enjoy. There was another car there, with a family of four exiting the vehicle.
Hyperion stepped out first, giving a cursory glance around the area while the rest of the Norricks followed suit. Morella’s giddiness was palpable.
Astra was curious, per usual. Curious about her cousins, and how this all would go. 2024 would start with a bang, that was for certain. Good or bad was anyone’s guess.
31 Jan 2024, 06:59
Us? Related?! WHAT?!
Interactions ❯❯ @Alyssea Brown | @Astra Norrick | @
Mentions ❯❯ @ | @ | @
❂《 ⌜ December 31, 2023 ▎ 7 PM - 1 AM ⌟▛▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔Raizel could already hear footsteps just outside their home, making her breathe in and then out. She was nervous about this reunion and no matter how hard she tried to tell herself that she's not, she is but she is trying her best not to show it. Not like she can hide it from her father. A tap on the shoulder was enough to make her jump, slowly looking up to the man just beside her.
“It'll be okay this time.” He assured, making Raizel nod. He trusts this folks, her mom also trusts them. She could trust them. She watched as her father went for the door to meet whoever had arrived and she followed after him. The girl stayed behind, mentally preparing herself for what's next and truth be told, her preparation wasn't enough.
There was a pair just outside, she could hear her father greeting them and none of them looked familiar to Raizel which is not that surprising. She stayed close to her father, just a bit to the sides so their guests could come inside when her father sort of asked if they wanted to sit down for a bit or if they wanted to look around outside. They do have a large front and backyard, a nice place to run around without worries from the muggle side of the world as they do live a bit far from civilization. If they do interact with her, she would give them a greeting, smiling abeit shyly.
Her mom soon came with her little brother in her arms, greeting their guests with a happy smile on her face, looking so glad to see the woman. “It's been a while.” She would say. It just shows how much she had missed her. It did make Raizel happy to see her smiling like that, unlike when her grandmother visited and insulted them, almost calling her mother a- no, she won't even think about that term. Good thing her father stepped in at that time.
“Looks like they are all here now.” Raizel heard her father call out, looking at the distance outside. All their guests are here… great. Nerves were coming back but she needs to keep her cool and she is rather curious about these cousins of hers due to her parents promise that this time, it'll be different from the experience she had with her grandmother. She followed her father when he step outside with her mom talking to the woman who was outside their door earlier.
Yup, she really wasn't ready… not ready to see familiar faces. She was left stunned, unable to speak, blinking a couple of times to make sure she wasn't dreaming this. She was so tempted to slap herself as well. Is that Alyssea Brown? The same one she fought on that piste? The same one that she's been hanging out with back in Hogwarts? And the other girl, the one from the race, the one back in the ballroom who played the violin, it's Astra Norrick and of course, her brother that she had seen a couple of times but not like they were close.
Oh boy, what a day this will turn out to be. Way to start a New Year.
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««««« Dialogue | #800000 | Ravi #4A0404 | Michelle #C21E56
INVENTORY
Oziel Toussaint | Miharu Goto
STA: 7| EVA: 12| STR: 3| WIS: 12| ARC: 10| ACC: 13
Perfectionist I | Fearless | Wandmaker | Terrible Presence
7 Feb 2024, 00:07
Us? Related?! WHAT?!
The door opened and Alyssea was quickly swept in. She kept her head down, nervous about what was coming next. Normally, she loved meeting people, especially those who would be close family. But something was up in the air and she just didn't quite know what was setting off her alarm bells.december 31st 2023; interacting with @Raizel Voltrouz and @Astra Norrick
Her mother greeted the lady at the door, exchanging cheek kisses and whatever else was considered appropriate for greetings. Alyssea bowed at them and said hello. She still couldn't shake off that bowing habit even if it wasn't a customary greeting in England. Once she had a good look at her aunts and uncles, Alyssea looked around.
To say her jaw dropped to the floor would be an understatement. It went deeper than the floor.
Raizel Voltrouz was standing right there, in the very same house Alyssea had entered, for a family reunion. Her mind raced with all sorts of excuses. Oh, yeah, we put ourselves in mortal danger and knocked each other out in duels. It's been fun. No, it has not been fun now that she had to face the consequences of her actions.
There was also Astra Norrick, the violin girl she met when dancing at the ballroom and also one of her broom racing opponents. While the broom race was rough, the damage Alyssea had given Astra was not as significant as the damage Raizel had received from the Hufflepuff.
Alyssea snapped back to her senses and waved to them both. "Hey...? I didn't know I would see you two here."
Her parents had a lot of explaining to do.
“I hope she'll be a fool — that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
27 Feb 2024, 13:17
Us? Related?! WHAT?!
rah
Hyperion - Morella -Roderick - Astra
@Raizel Voltrouz - @Alyssea Brown
Hyperion - Morella -Roderick - Astra
@Raizel Voltrouz - @Alyssea Brown
Astra entered the house with the rest of her family, hanging back behind her dad and mum as she looked around curiously, observing the houses interior once she passed the threshold.
"Michelle, Florence, so good to see you two," Morella said with a warm smile, hugging one woman then the other, the one with the little kid in her arms. Hyperion greeted one of the men as someone familiar, and the other as someone new. Astra glanced around the people and saw-
Alyssa- Alicia? Alys-something, a Hufflepuff girl who danced and hosted races and had given her a broom to borrow and also blatched her off said broom.
And Raizel, the Gryffindor who Elsian seemed to like and gotten sent to the hospital wing from Aly's race and who hosted the one Astra herself had participated in.
Roderick seemed to know Raizel, his eyebrows raising in quick surprise. "Didn't expect to see anyone from school here," he admitted aloud. Astra still remained silent, blinking at an increased rate, attempting to process this.
It wasn't like she was particularly close with the girls but it still felt surreal to be related to these people she'd seen every once in a while, had formed a positive acquaintancy with.
Roderick tugged on Astra's hoodie sleeve and gestured to Morella. The woman had come close to them and now gestured to her apparent cousin. "Roderick, Astra, this is my cousin Michelle. Raizel is her daughter." She then pointed out the other grown woman. "That's Florence, Alyssea is her daughter."
Oh. So that's how you say it.
Astra responded to Alyssea's wave with one of her own. "Shocker. Pleasantly, of course," Astra responded, sharing the confused sentiment that shrouded each girl.
Already, the young readhead was bursting with questions to ask her mother on the way home.
28 Feb 2024, 05:57
Us? Related?! WHAT?!
Interactions ❯❯ @Alyssea Brown | @Astra Norrick | @
Mentions ❯❯ @ | @ | @
❂《 ⌜ December 31, 2023 ▎ 7 PM - 1 AM ⌟▛▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔What’s before her was reality, people that she sure wasn’t expecting to see in this so-called family reunion. Familiar faces, ones that she sees a ton of during school days and much like them, she was surprised, taking her time to take in everything. Cousins, these women are her mother’s cousin and that… makes their children, her cousins.
“Looks like you already know each other?” Only when her father spoke up that she snapped out of her trance, returning a confused look at his question. How to answer that question. Yes, they know each other, it was fun duelling Alyssea till one was knocked out and it was fun hosting a race for her and Astra and watching whatever misfortune happens during it.
“Y-Yeah.” But before her father could even hear her answer, he was already greeting one of their guests which made her turn her attention back to the others until her mother came.
“That’s your aunt Morella and of course, your cousins. Her husband is also one of your father’s colleagues.” Michelle told her once Morella was done introducing her children and then gestured to the other woman just as her aunt introduced her as Florence and then her children. So many names, Raizel is hoping she kind of got them all in her mind considering that she’s not only that bad in remembering names, but she’s still recovering from the initial shock of seeing folks from school in this reunion. “This is certainly unexpected…” she uttered, showing a sheepish grin. How to start a conversation again? That shouldn’t be hard! Heck, she always talks to Alyssea and she does know both Astra and Roderick but why does it feel so awkward right now. Their parents will surely be doing a lot of catching up so that means they’ll be left talking to each other until New Year’s.
“Surprised…? I guess…” Oh that was horrible. She slapped herself mentally for that. “Who knew… right? Saves the introduction at least.” What now though, the outside is looking pretty nice.
Despite the awkwardness, there was a hint of relief, Raizel being sure now that these relatives of hers aren’t as bad as her grandmother from her father’s side. In a way, she was glad that she knew them in a way.
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««««« Dialogue | #800000 | Ravi #4A0404 | Michelle #C21E56
INVENTORY
Oziel Toussaint | Miharu Goto
STA: 7| EVA: 12| STR: 3| WIS: 12| ARC: 10| ACC: 13
Perfectionist I | Fearless | Wandmaker | Terrible Presence
22 Mar 2024, 06:02
Us? Related?! WHAT?!
Alyssea awkwardly stood around, sitting by the nearest couch in the living room as her parents caught up with Raizel and Astra's parents. She took a look at her phone only to find the signal absolutely gone. Darn, she was not going to be able to avoid this by doom-scrolling through social media or texting her friends. Alyssea had a few puzzle games for this type of situation but that would only last a couple of hours.december 31st 2023; interacting with @Raizel Voltrouz and @Astra Norrick
When the time came to eat, Alyssea was still awkwardly hovering around, unsure of how to interact with her cousins.
Cousins. Cousins. Shocker of a word to say even in her head. She couldn't believe it. Looking up at the two, she cleared her throat. "So... what've you guys been up to this winter break?"
Once she heard their responses, Alyssea replied, "I've been ice skating again. I started skating just before I started Hogwarts. The other day, I landed a jump!" She beamed, remembering the adrenaline running through her veins as she recalled that moment. While it was only a single toe loop, it was an incredible progress marker. Just the year before, she couldn't even do a lap without panicking that she would fall.
Coming back to the present, she poked at her food with her fork. "Do you guys have any New Year's resolutions?"
“I hope she'll be a fool — that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
6 Apr 2024, 13:13
Us? Related?! WHAT?!
rah
Hyperion - Morella -Roderick - Astra
@Raizel Voltrouz - @Alyssea Brown
Hyperion - Morella -Roderick - Astra
@Raizel Voltrouz - @Alyssea Brown
Astra nodded to Raizel's statement. "Yeah," she said. It did save introductions.
Astra noted how Aunt(?) Michelle had said Hyperion worked with Raizel's dad, and now she saw Hyperion greeting the younger man as an old friend would. It popped even more questions into her head.
Alyssea's question caused memories to swirl in her brain, sound-based ones: snippets of conversation, the soft music of that ball and the cheerful sounds of Christmas. "I went to a ball with my uncle and spent Christmas with a friend," she answered with a slight shrug. Each had been... an experience. For very different reasons. "How about you?"
A dancer, a racer, and a skater! Alyssea was a girl of many talents it seemed. Astra mirrored her cousin's enthusiasm with a smile of her own. "That sounds awesome! How long have you been skating?" The desire to skate was just one of many quiet desires Astra had that was never really acted upon in favor of more pressing, loud ones.
New Year's Resolutions? The word ring a bell, but Astra couldn't quite place a definition. She looked to Roderick quickly but he was no help, sticking to Dad's side and joining that conversation. Another moment of thought before she gave up and asked, "I'm sorry, what are those again?"
10 Apr 2024, 01:29
Us? Related?! WHAT?!
Interactions ❯❯ @Alyssea Brown | @Astra Norrick | @
Mentions ❯❯ @ | @ | @
❂《 ⌜ December 31, 2023 ▎ 7 PM - 1 AM ⌟▛▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔What has she been doing this winter break? Raizel needed a huge time to think about that for nothing was coming into mind. Surely, she did something… right? Aside from helping out around that is. Not like there is much to do considering how her mother uses magic to almost do the chores in the house, making it easier for them.
“I help around here… mostly tending my mother's plants that is.” Her mother likes her plants. She could become a Herbologist if she wanted to. “She has tons as you probably saw outside and lately, she's been trying to get back into potion making so there's also that.” It was nice how her parents almost have the same interests as hers but that's probably not that surprising. Maybe she picked it up on them. She knows her love for spells came from her father at least. From her mom… you could say it's how she is passing her Herbology back at Hogwarts. Those skills are what she needed after all, for her goals.
But hearing what her cousins just did during their winter break had somehow made her realize how boring her activities were compared to them. “Not as grand as what you guys did though. Ice skating sounds fun, I bet you did well.” Knowing Alyssea, Miss Lucky Heels who had been avoiding spells like it was nothing in heels, she would be nimble enough to pull off some crazy moves. Her head then turned towards Astra. “Hope that one wasn't as crazy as the Hogwarts one.” A normal ball would be nice for once where no one is thrown into a life or death situation.
“New Year's Resolution huh… from what I can remember, they are like goals that you want to achieve, right?” She wasn't sure if that was the exact definition but that is how she understood it. Goals… What goals does she have for next year that'll follow? Being a good duellist? Get better at casting spells? Sounds like something she would do alright. “Do you guys have one?”
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««««« Dialogue | #800000 | Ravi #4A0404 | Michelle #C21E56
INVENTORY
Oziel Toussaint | Miharu Goto
STA: 7| EVA: 12| STR: 3| WIS: 12| ARC: 10| ACC: 13
Perfectionist I | Fearless | Wandmaker | Terrible Presence