14 Sep 2024, 23:51
The Peak of Emotion
Roleplaying as Casey Stone from Ilvermorny
August 31st 2024
Casey's Speech: Bold #257379
Nick's Speech: Bold #00b890
Thoughts: Bold Italics
OOC Notes: Took a crack at researching American mountain ranges for this one
"You must remember, all stories start from somewhere..."
- Drew Hayden Taylor
Bags packed and school supplies organised, Casey sat by the living room window. Contrary to the dreams he had in the past, he began nostalgically thinking about his time with him. That hadn't happened in a long time. He suddenly remembered that day...
Le Flashback - June 2021
Anyone who could survey from nearly 14,500 ft in the air will be lucky enough to spot two tiny dots on the Skyline Trail around Mount Rainier. They had managed to hike four miles around the loop so far, having just past Panorama Point where their parents stayed at camp and headed over the Paradise River after crossing the wooden footbridge where they proceeded along towards the Trailhead. They dipped on and off the trail to wade through the wildflowers and rock surfaces whilst following the light of the sun.
Leading the charge between the daring duo was Nick, his boots heavy against the rock face while cementing the ends of his trousers to his legs, the wind struggling to break through. A contrast to his shirt and jacket that reminded everyone of his fondness for greasers and grunge, his blonde hair flicked to the side while the sun sparkled in his blue eyes.
Stumbling under the weight of his rucksack and the leaded legs that struggled to climb up the steep was Casey, sweltered in his thermals, his feet knackered and exhausted to the point that he could tip over if he had to cart him and his gear any further up the trek.
Eventually the younger Stone abandoned his bag as he sunk to his knees, sweat running down his face and back as the chill of the breeze embraced him. The sun beat down over the summit and after an audible groan was carried by the wind, Nick finally stopped to look behind himself. He smirked as he placed a hand on his waist nonchalantly.
"Y'alright, Cay?" he called out before retracting his steps to meet his younger brother. He chuckled when he saw the state of him. "You didn't look down did ya?" He went to playfully punch Casey's shoulder, eliciting another frustrated groan from his younger half.
Casey gave him a snide look before he took another huff of air. "I can't do it... I can't go any further... Lungs are burnin'... I feel like I'm gonna die."
"You're being dramatic, little bro," He hoisted Casey up by the hand and retrieved his bag, slinking it over his own shoulder alongside his. "We're almost there anyway! Just stick it out, buddy."
Nick walked ahead, with Casey making mocking noises under his breath before he did his best to keep pace with him. The entire time Casey had blamed Nick for his fiendishly long legs and tall stature in general for his extra boost in energy, compared to his own puny seven year old self. Though with the vigour Nick was walking at, perhaps they really were getting close to where they wanted to be.
As Casey dragged himself across the rocky terrain, he saw Nick stride over the mountain side where he nearly disappeared over the top. Lagging behind, Casey puffed as he followed suit.
"Nick! Wait up!"
"Casey! You gotta see this!"
Casey rolled his eyes. He was going as fast as his weary spindly legs could take him damnit! He pounded up the side of the mountain until he re-joined the trail with his brother. Once his head peeked over the edge he stood, jaw open at the view.
"Whoa..."
Nick nudged his brother. "Lovely, isn't it? Good ol' Myrtle Falls."
The brothers looked over cliff's edge where a giant cascading waterfall ran down beneath them, waves of which landed at the rocks below and into the stream ahead. Foliage encased the water in a green bed, a never-ending musk of fresh earth wafting in the air. Casey had never seen something so clear, green and clean in his life.
"Worth it?"
Casey shrugged. Nick tackled him in his arms. "Well~?"
"Alright, alright! It was worth it! Gerroff me!" Casey alternated between grunts and giggles when Nick started tickling him under the arms before he showed mercy and pulled away. The pair sat by the cliff's edge as they watched the waterfall below in silence, resting their dangling feet as they got their breath back after the nearly five mile hike.
After a while, Nick broke the silence.
"So kiddo... Got a question for ya."
Casey looked up at him and Nick continued, his voice soft. "Everything alright? Mom said something happened with you at home the other day."
Casey swallowed. He knew what he meant. He looked away and back down at the waterfall, the overlapping sounds of the water seemingly mimicking the volume of his thoughts.
"Yeah... Something happened..."
(To Be Continued...)
Word Count: 910
For The Know-How (Le Plot)
@Scout Fu-Hai - @AngelFyre McCubbin - @Ruby Night - @Danielle Alden - @Renelle Dalton - @Simon Kincaid - @Colin McCoire - @Ophelia Northwell - @Ava Winchect - @Eugenia Karageorgiadi
Stats: Stamina: 8 | Strength: 7 | Evasion: 7 | Wisdom: 6 | Arc Power: 6 | Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Fearless| Poison Resistance
Last edited by Emily Shephard on 28 Sep 2024, 02:05, edited 1 time in total.
Trust Yourself - Love Yourself - Be Yourself
iNPC = Casey Stone
28 Sep 2024, 02:05
The Peak of Emotion
Roleplaying as Casey Stone from Ilvermorny
August 31st 2024
Casey's Speech: Bold #257379
Nick's Speech: Bold #00b890
Thoughts: Bold Italics
"Yeah... Something happened." Casey slipped his elbows between his legs as he slumped over. "It was Rudi again." The name left him with an exhausted exhale. Nick's brow furrowed as he too sighed, though not before catching sight of a black and blue mark underneath Casey's bang of hair, which he was subtly trying to hide.
"Not again, Cay..." He was about to go off when Casey stopped him prematurely with a raised hand. "Look, it wasn't my fault. He started it this time. He kept going on about how stupid Muggles are and how they're "thick-headed flobberworms" and how our family is "tainted" and stuff. He even called mom a..." Casey kicked the cliffside with his heel violently before he lost his momentum in Nick's touch, who pulled his head close to his chest.
"Colours, Cay... Think of the colours..."
Caaey breathed and his temper waned when he recited the mantra like Nick taught him. His brother took his arm and rubbed it whilst holding him close. Eventually Casey went limp against Nick's touch and rested against him.
"Why are people just so... So..."
"Insufferable? Dull-minded? Complainy?"
"Yeah, those..."
Nick patted Casey on the shoulder. "We live in a complicated world, little bro. Unfortunately, divisions can last just as long as the most stubborn scars. And it's not just Muggles and wizards that divide our planet, but optimists and pessimists too. Rudi may be young like you, but he'll never see what makes our non-magical counterparts so great. I mean, technology, the Internet and motorbikes that don't fly... He and his rat-sack family are the only dopes I know that aren't impressed by all that."
Nick took a stone and began throwing it up and down mindlessly as he talked. "You hafta remember, kid, unlike some Purebloods who've wised up a little over the years, others are still missing out on one of the greatest ways of life. I mean, you've seen Mom's research and stuff. All of what they have without magic. Anyone would be impressed, much less fascinated, don't you think?" Nick got intrigued with his thoughts just thinking about it all.
Casey took a moment to think. "Sure but, Rudi said--"
"Never mind what Rudi said," Nick interrupted promptly. "Using your fists and teeth won't convince him that being Wizard-born is perfectly normal, or the fact that Muggles are just as wonderful as even the most brightest wizards in history. Use your brain, Cay. Not your knuckles."
"Rudi said--!"
"Who gives a flying crap what Rudi thinks?! He's half my age and even I know he's a baby-faced twit. Look Casey, just ignore what that blood purist says, yeah? He ain't worth the time spent trying to fight with him. As sad a life as it is to belittle other people because they're fond of Muggles or happen to have traces of non-magical heritage in their lineage, that's what he's chosen to do. Just like his sisters and his frickin' stuck-up folks. That doesn't have any bearing on you."
The brothers fell silent again. Casey stared daggers into the ground below him.
"He still called Mom a-"
"I don't wanna hear what he called her," Nick interrupted again, though slightly more gently this time. "She's amazing, pretty cool and pretty in general. That's all. Rudi can't improve on someone that's already a frickin' angel."
The brothers were real mother's boys. More so Casey than Nick was arguably, given Casey's steely look as he thought back to Rudi's insults. It was because of their mother that Casey found out he had magical talent in the first place, somehow able to make the grass grow magically behind him because he found a flower that he desperately wanted to give to his beloved mother.
"Mom's cool..." Casey said wistfully. Nick nodded affirmatively.
"That she is..."
"Do you still like that girl? She kinda reminds me of her a little."
Nick swallowed, taken aback by thé sudden question. "Wha?? W-What girl?" Nick looked everywhere except at Casey, who smirked and raised a brow. "You know who I mean. What's her name... Lily... Launa..."
"Louisa."
Casey wolf-whistled and Nick punched him back in the shoulder. "Cheeky sod!"
Casey grinned. "C'mon big bro. If you like her so much just ask her out, you lovesick puppy...!"
"And what if she has a boyfriend already hmmm~??" Nick bearhugged Casey, the younger Stone squirming whilst stifling a laugh, a devilish grin stretching on his face.
"Then I'll get a good laugh when you blow it and she turns you down!"
"You little-!"
Casey broke free and the two chased each other across the grounds. Casey zigged and zagged between the rocky dips along the cliff surface while Nick leapt over them as he tailed his younger shadow, arms outstretched to catch him. Casey eventually stumbled, allowing Nick to grab him and throw him over his shoulder where he spun him around. Both brothers yelled and squealed with laughter before they let go of each other to collapse flat on the ground, the odd giggle escaping their lungs as they calmed down.
More time was spent in silence between them, the noise of the waterfall easily overshadowing the soft sounds of their laboured breathing. They laid in full view of the sun that beat down upon them. The sweat ran off Casey than the water below them.
"Hey, Nicky?"
"Yeah?"
Casey smiled. "You're pretty cool too. Even if you're a clod a lot of the time."
Nick chuckled and flicked a quaff of his hair in mock flattery. "You give me too much credit, Cay."
He scooted across the plain to hold Casey's head against his waist as they continued to lie there among the grit and grass. "Love you, kiddo."
Casey turned on his side to press himself closer to him. "Love you too, Nicky..."
"C'mon. Let's start heading back before we get caught in the dark on the backtrack to camp." Nick got up and dusted himself off before retrieving his gear.
Casey followed by example, though not before howling down the waterfall channel to then walk alongside Nick as they began to traverse back across the trail...
End Of Le Flashback...
The memory faded and Casey woke up, greeted with the familiar surroundings and furnishings of the living room, now grounded back to reality. He wanted to cry but instead he laughed. A damn good day that was. He was grateful to remember it so fondly, a luxury he rarely had in the time he was grieving for Nick.
He felt his strife strengthen. He'd be finding Nick so he could have those days again, where they'd hike, talk and goof off.
Casey's fist cracked when he curled it determinedly.
You better still be alive, you clod...
Word Count: 1210
A Small Word For The "Know-How" Gang:
You guys invested yet?
For The Know-How (Le Plot)
@Scout Fu-Hai - @AngelFyre McCubbin -@ Ruby Night - @Danielle Alden - @Renelle Dalton - @Simon Kincaid - @Colin McCoire - @Ophelia Northwell - @Ava Winchect - @Eugenia Karageorgiadi
Stats: Stamina: 8|Evasion: 7|Strength: 7|Wisdom: 6|Arcane Power: 6|Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Fearless|Poison Resistance
Trust Yourself - Love Yourself - Be Yourself
iNPC = Casey Stone