warning: voices and brookline saying she hates herself is regular! all of brookie’s thoughts are her own

ℬrookline stood by her bunk, arms crossed over her chest, as she observed her tent mates yapping about a game night and crap she didn't focus enough to listen. All her pricking tears were gone, and she was left with a cold anger, just trying her best not to blow at her teammates.

Tigeress purred, her graceful, robust frame stretched out across Brookline's bed. A hand would drift down and rub her kitten's soft, warm fur. The Welsh girl practically flopped on her bunk, her fingers finding that soft tiger fur, and then giving Tigeress a much-needed massage.

If a tent mate asked her how she was doing or if she wanted to join the game they were playing, then she would say she's fine, that she needs a break, and politely declines.

However, as the girl, not giving a darn, rubbed her kitten, she caught snippets of her teammates conversations.

“Did anyone bring any games or know any games to play? Whenever Aurélie has a idea...” Peter's voice was excited. Brookline turned over, blurring out whatever Peter said next, absolutely hating the fact that Peter liked someone else, and was thinking excitedly about that prettier girl.

Her insides fumed and her mind was riddled with anger thoughts and naughty curses.

“I think we should play two truths, and a lie. I'll go first.”

That prettier girl with that beautiful accent. Aurélie. The one that Peter liked. Liked too much. Brookline saw how he looks at her, and that would explain the distance.

Brookline shoved her face into her mattress, her hands comforting Tigeress, or actually comforting her. She was defeated. Her best friend, her real best friend, would rather take this girl's side - he's only known like two years, versus Brookline, who's he's known his entire life. She quietly laughed bitterly, and the stupid voices started haunting her. Mocking her.

More voices speaking, blurring confidenly together. It was as if the universe moved on without her, and she was stuck, invisible and mute to those around her.

This was maddening. Yet, would Brookline go mad?

“Ooo, ooo! I know, I'll go next...”

Giggly, more out there, unfamiliar. Devon. Kaitlyn's best friend. The next round.

“The first one?”

More familiar, soft and gentle. Ophelia.

“Nope!”

“Is the second one the lie?”

Kaitlyn. Calm, graceful, a giggle hidden in her words somewhere.

“Yes!” Devon nodded excitingly.

Brookline didn't have the strength to listen any more. Pain squirmed in her stomach, and she had to roll of her belly. She did, rolling onto her back, kicking her legs in a sprawled position, her messy, tangled, brunette hair spread out in a large fan around her skull. Tigeress decided right at that moment to step over her head, and leap off the bed.

Probably to go play with dear Dove, she grumpily thought, filled with envy. Her lips pinched in a small frown, and she felt her stomach drop in grim guilt.

Brookline's eyes trailed to the ceiling, the colorful ceiling, and her mind ran from herself while it still could. In a completely non-Brookline movment, she hauled herself up and out of the poster canopy bunk, peering at her tent mates. She decided she did wanna join on game night. Grudgingly, she agreed that Peter's new, better best friend had good ideas.

Just then, her friends started taking more, chatting over each other as they fussed over what game they were going to play next. Brookline figured she had the solution. A solution which would fix her for the rest of the day. Or hour.

If nothing terrible happens.

Even so, look at the track record. Terrible is in her birthright. Brookline sighed. She still headed towaeds the group.

Dropping beside Opehlia and Dove, Brookline smiled at the group, most likely surprising the lot of them who knew her, and tucked the front, long, brunette lock under her ears. She would brush her hair later, I mean, who's going to notice her horrible untrusted hair?

It doesn't look too bad. Just a little frizzy, right? Brookline thought, as she subconsciously ran her slender fingers through her matted hair.

"Do you guys mind if I join the next game? If you haven't chosen the next game, may I suggest one?" Her dark blue eyes were still dull, yet, she was trying. Really trying. If no-one declined, she would add, "What about charades? My mum used to play that Muggle game with my siblings and I. Does everyone know how to play?"

Offering a small smile to the group, the Welsh girl was excited, and realized she hadn't been exited in such a long time. It was refreshing, and to be honest, all she wanted to was run through valleys of flowers and feel the sun's warn kisses upon her cheeks.

ooc: the writers of kaitlyn, and Ophelia have given me permission to mention and godmod ophelia, aurélie, kaitlyn and devon just a little bit. thank you!

banner by elisa

@Brookline Quinn ⋆ @Peter Smith ⋆ @Devon Wallen ⋆ @Kaitlyn Connor ⋆ @Harvey Barrows ⋆ @Elisa Wagner ⋆ @Ophelia Northwell

"french" | "english" | thoughts | "others"

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Aurélie was a little surprised when Peter backed up her idea. Maybe she shouldn't be. Maybe she was overreacting with the way that she'd taken his lack of enthusiasm at being in the same tent. Whatever it was, she decided that now was definitely not the time to think about it. Tentmate time is for bonding with people who would become friends over the next few weeks at summer camp, and she was going to enjoy this time to the fullest.

"I think we should play two truths, and a lie." She proposed the idea with as much excitement as she could muster put behind it. No one else had pitched in any ideas for what they could do first, and she knew that two truths and a lie was a great getting to know you activity. "I'll go first." Aurélie was used to going first, most people were afraid of being the first for anything. But not the French girl. What they should really be afraid of is going last.

She took a moment to think, before deciding that she'd go easy this first round. Aurélie grinned, looking around the room. She wondered who would get it first. Would it be Peter? "I'm an only child, I have a cat named Shadow, and I'm a photographer." If Harvey, or anyone else really, had been paying attention earlier, they would definitely know whether one of them was a truth or a lie.

Of course, they kept playing. A game after another, round after round. It was fun, and games kept them entertained and not focused on the awkwardness of meeting for the first time. Aurélie had found tricks like this growing up around all the people that her grandparents made her meet. Most people were shy, and making them feel comfortable enough to talk was hard, especially in a short time. But games? Everyone loved games! Just the thought of winning a game made Aurélie excited.

Eventually-- Aurélie didn't know how much time had passed, she wasn't really paying attention to anything-- Brookline joined their little circle. In all honesty, Aurélie hadn't noticed that Brookline hadn't been there, but a quick glance at Peter told her that he'd noticed. The drop in her stomach was unfamiliar and she didn't know what it meant. Don't think about it. Don't think about Peter.

She tuned back into the world just as Brookline suggested a game of charades. "Ooh! Yes, charades would be lots of fun."

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@Brookline Quinn | @Ophelia Northwell | @Aurélie Nathalie Duval | @Peter Smith | @Kaitlyn Conner | @Devon Wallen | @Elisa Wagner

Harvey had been enjoying the evening so far, much to his surprise. Usually gatherings this large left him in a sour mood. His peers often had a way of getting under his skin and often times he was not the most pleasant of company. It had always been that way for Harvey. When he was thrust into situations that he could not control it left him irritable. The boy wanted things his way and when he was outnumbered that proved impossible. However, this particular group was comprised of people he was having an easy time getting along with. Until games were brought up anyways.

Harvey did his best not to groan aloud when idea was floated and gained traction. He was having a lovely time talking and taking photographs, why were they insisting on a group activity?! He took his time making his way over to where the group was gathering. He heard mention of two truths and a lie. An idea he did not want to pursue. Divulging personal information was something he saved for specific people in specific situations. Sure, he could just tell many lies and hope his poker face held up, but being under that scrutiny was not his cup of tea. However, when charades was mentioned he drew himself closer.

His grandfather was a very serious goblin. Games and playtime weren't something Larnak was going to participate in, but he did host parties at their townhouse in London and party games came with the territory. He had seen a few games of charades played before and there was something about the theatrics of it that Harvey found pleasing. "I'd be happy to play a game of charades."

Thank you to the amazing Elisa Wagner for the awesome banner!

Interacting with : Reducio @Ophelia Northwell, @Aurélie Nathalie Duval, @Peter Smith, @Brookline Quinn, @Kaitlyn Connor, @Elisa Wagner, @Harvey Barrows

Outfit: Reducio

Notes: Reducio Speech: #8e19d7 Thoughts: italics Date: August 11, 2025

With Ginger in her lap, Devon giggled quietly as she saw Aurélie’s excitement. It appeared that Peter seemed to back up her idea, too. To be fair, it sounded like a fun game! Two truths and a lie. Devon never assumed that she had a poker face at all, but she did assume that her natural excitement and energy would help conceal it. Maybe? Or, at least, enough for most people. As she only knew Kaitlyn from the tent, Devon figured that Kaitlyn would likely know her answers.

Once Aurélie finished her turn, Devon beamed excitedly. “Ooo, ooo! I know. I’ll go next …” She trailed off, thinking of the best options in her mind. After all, it needed to be challenging. Rather, she wanted it to be challenging. Sure, she was an open book, but she figured there had to be something she had never shared with others before.

“I’m the youngest in my family. I know how to speak five languages. I play the violin,” Devon announced. Her eyes glowed as the others talked. “Nope!” She replied to Ophelia’s guess of the first statement. Indeed, she was the youngest in her family. She giggled at Kaitlyn’s guess of the second one and nodded. “Yes! It is the second one. I only know English. I’m trying Spanish at Ilvermorny, and I want to try Japanese,” she explained.

The game continued among most of the group in the tent. Devon was aware that one girl was not participating too much. She recalled the girl’s name to be Brookline, the one who greeted Kaitlyn with a hug. Having just met the other girl, however, she didn’t think it was anywhere near appropriate to say something. The last thing we wanted to do was to step on anyone’s toes. Metaphorically or physically.

Thankfully, it didn’t take long for Brookline to rejoin the group with an excellent suggestion! “Oh, charades are fun! Yes, I’d love to play!” She exclaimed in her usual burst of energy.

Reducio

Note: 332 words

Thank you to the amazing Elisa Wagner for the awesome banner!

Interacting with : Reducio @Ophelia Northwell, @Aurélie Nathalie Duval, @Peter Smith, @Brookline Quinn, @Devon Wallen, @Elisa Wagner, @Harvey Barrows

Date: Reducio August 11, 2025

Notes: Reducio Speech: #3CB371 Thoughts: italics

Outfit: Reducio

A smile formed on Kaitlyn’s lips. To be fair, she was still very much the shy Slytherin who joined Hogwarts not too long ago. Regardless, she was trying her best to talk to the others in her tent. It certainly helped that her best friend, Devon, was there with her.

Aurélie’s turn was next. Her contributions to the game were pretty good. Kaitlyn was not a good judge of guestimating lies, which would likely not bode too well for her once the new school year started. But that wouldn’t stop the young Slytherin from enjoying the game they were playing.

Kaitlyn beamed when Devon volunteered to go next. ‘Of course she would. Devon’s a ball of energy. A cute ball of energy. But, a ball of energy all the same. I honestly have to wonder why she’s so energetic all the time. Yet, she’s always been so nice to me, and I have to admit, I like her company. Yes, she can talk a lot. But, I find that endearing.’

After Devon listed her statements, Kaitlyn held back from immediately answering. She was the Horned Serpent’s best friend, after all. Her blue eyes glowed slightly, already knowing the answer. Ophelia guessed her first option, which Kaitlyn knew was a fact. One that Devon didn’t mind sharing. Kaitlyn had met Devon’s siblings before and noted the bond Devon shared with her older sister, Rebecca. It was quite cute and reminded her of the bond she shared with her twin sister, Abby.

A smile crossed Kaitlyn’s lips. “Is the second one the lie?” She asked with a knowing smile, gently nudging her best friend’s shoulder.

The game continued as they took turns. Kaitlyn took notice, however, that Brook wasn’t participating. Shyness enveloped Kaitlyn, not knowing if it was a good idea to ask what was up. It was clearly enough to bother the Ravenclaw girl. Besides, it could be a potentially sensitive topic, which meant discretion.

A smile crossed her lips as Kaitlyn watched Brook join them and suggest charades. “Oh, yes! Charades sounds good!” She exclaimed, happy to see Brook come back.

Word Count:

Reducio

Note: 351 words