Camaraderie, Misread
[quote]──────────────────
| Stamina 8 | Evasion 7 | Strength 4 | Wisdom 7 | Arcane Power 7 | Accuracy 7 |
Duelling Club, 30th September 2025
interacting: @Archer Duncan
| speaking | thinking | all other dialogue |
Stepping into the large room sent the butterflies deep inside of her spinning. The room was so spacious that for a moment, it felt as if she might get lost within it. The first feature that caught Adeline's eye was the expansive stone floor, riddled with cracks from wall to wall. Evidence of dueling was blatantly apparent in each and every imperfection. The portraits of presumably famous duelists decorated one of the giant walls, a brigade of dueling dummies positioned beneath them.
The young raven felt incredibly small.
Instantly Adeline felt the need to retreat to the edge of the room, so she did. Quickly and quietly she made her way to the wooden bleachers to her right and took a seat against wall. Her back felt cool against the charmed wood; the sensation helped to anchor the girl as she observed her surroundings further, keeping her eye out for familiar faces. This would not prove to be a fruitful endeavor, much to the Spinks girl's dismay. A quick scan of the room had shown exactly three other occupants, a pair of Gryffindor boys preparing to duel, and a Slytherin girl gazing at the portraits across the room. Adeline took a moment to plan her next move.
Nerves spinning her into an unusually chatty girl, Adeline decided to approach the dark haired girl for a bit of solidarity, and to break the ice. Keep it casual. Adeline repeated to herself as she padded across the cracked stone.
Upon reaching the portrait wall, Addie began fidgeting with one of the dummies "I am so happy there is another girl in here..." she shifted her gaze upwards to examine the portraits on the wall, attempting nonchalance with the Slytherin girl. "I was a bit worried that I would be.. outnumbered." She chuckled under her breath.
Adeline, for once, was painfully clueless.
Camaraderie, Misread
30/09/2025 | duelling club
“I am so happy there is another girl in here…” were the last words Archer had expected to hear in the duelling hall, much less directed towards him. He turned to find it coming out of the lips of a girl, slightly shorter and seemingly younger than him, with shoulder-length umber hair and a pair of smokey blue eyes that looked as if they belonged to a deer frozen in the highlights.
Nervous energy radiated off her as she fidgeted with a nearby duelling dummy. If Archer had to guess, this was her first time on a team. If Archer had to guess, a lot of embarrassment was coming her way too.
He supposed, now that his hair was much, much longer, the mistake was understandable. In fact, through some half-hearted observation, he had noted that it was now longer than some of the girls in his year, especially compared to the amount of boys with long hair. Little of them chose to tie it up either, but that was a must for the boy engaged in a sport.
His dressing didn’t help either—although there was nothing straightforwardly feminine about it Archer preferred sweaters and loose attire over tight ones, leaving the possibility of differentiating through his body difficult.
A semester ago Archer would have offered her a gentle correction, but a lot had happened over the course of a semester and he was no longer the same person, not timid and formal. Instead, his eyes lit up as an idea, however asinine, rose in the murky depths of his mind, if only just to play a trick on her for a few fleeting minutes before she would inevitably realise that she, in fact, was talking to not the another girl she was hoping for but yet another boy among this testosterone fest. Archer raised his brows and cleared his throat.
Still in that awkward period of teenage puberty, Archer’s voice had not quite changed. It tended towards a higher pitch from the start, and although he was not the highest pitched amongst his peers, it was ambiguous enough that when it came to matters of gender, it was hardly distinguishable between male and female. He could have been easily either, both, neither, or however genders worked. In this case, all the previous evidence backed him up as seemingly female.
So, as that mischievous glance heightened the flecks of gold in hazel eyes, why not play into it?
He straightened, just barely, and angled himself just away from the girl so she could not see the straight, jerky lines of his body clearly. “I know right,” he began, tucking his wand into his robe and gesturing eagerly with his hands. “I never expected this sport to be so infested with boys,” he said, rolling his eyes. He didn’t know which team the girl was coming from, but what he did know fully well was that Slytherin still boasted a diverse roster of genders.
Infested. He couldn’t help but smirk.
@Adeline Spinks
Last edited by Archer Duncan on 1 Nov 2025, 06:42, edited 2 times in total.
I am not even singed. My wings are untouched. You use them for everything, except flight.
Liliya Starkova| Anthonie Engelbrecht
Liliya Starkova| Anthonie Engelbrecht
Camaraderie, Misread
[quote]──────────────────
| Stamina 8 | Evasion 7 | Strength 4 | Wisdom 7 | Arcane Power 7 | Accuracy 7 |
Duelling Club, 30th September 2025
interacting: @Archer Duncan
| speaking | thinking | all other dialogue |
With her attention still partially occupied by the intricacies of the duelling dummies before her, Adeline didn't even glance in the 'girl's' direction as she quipped back. "For all the time they dedicate to puffing up their chests and bragging, you’d think they’d have a bit of skill to back it up." A sheepish chuckle fell from her lips at the thought. She was bluffing, of course. Adeline knew that what she was saying was clearly stepping into exaggeration territory. It must have been her lingering nerves that kept her rambling. "If it were up to me the boys would all be stuck with each other so that we could ACTUALLY get something done on the piste." She spat playfully. Through her eyes, everything was going wonderfully; surely her new friend would agree with her, right?
Addie finally found the confidence to face the dark-haired student head-on. She awkwardly shifted her weight in an attempt to mimic the Slytherin's effortless stance, though if ones eyes were to linger on her for more than a moment, her fidgeting fingers would immediately give her true nature away. She cleared her throat before formally introducing herself. “I’m Adeline, by the way. Adeline Spinks that is.” she pauseded for just a moment, a sprinkling of previous nervousness tucked under the surface of her tone. “ Or .. Addie. Whichever works. ” Without being too nosy, she attempted to peer around the Slytherin's cloak of black hair, trying in vain to find her gaze.
Camaraderie, Misread
30/09/2025 | duelling club
It was impossible to contain a smirk at her fellow duellist’s comments, each of her quips an obvious attempt at bluffing yet his greatest source of trivial amusement. One would think Archer ought to have preferred more sophisticated entertainment. Playing into Adeline's words, Archer let out a word of interjection, lips parting grandly, as he deepened his pitch in an impressive impression of some of his favourite people, mimicked their tones as he grinned in mockery.
“I’m Adeline, by the way. Adeline Spinks that is.”
At the girl’s formal introduction — the actual girl out of the two of them, Archer smiled with more kindness than he would have expected from himself. She had cleared her throat the same way he had done all those times as a child. Holding out a hand as he always did in introductions of this manner, he paused for a few moments at his name. Deciding that his first was unisex enough and unable to think of any alternatives, he proceeded. “Archer Theodor-a Duncan,” He began, voice almost catching on the familiar ending of his middle name, yet the save was a fluid one, as languid as his posture. “Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
Spying Adeline’s attempt to find Archer’s gaze, he spared her a wayward glance before angling himself away from her again in a deliberate curation of mystery. After all, he would not want sweet Adeline to be too prying for her own good and eventually embarrass herself when she found out Archer was among the boys they had spoken so mockingly of. Overconfident that he would surely burst out laughing sooner or later, Archer did not want to dwell on the potential end of the meeting, and instead the boy directed the conversation towards another direction. Chuckling, he asked, “How has duelling been treating you?”
@Adeline Spinks
I am not even singed. My wings are untouched. You use them for everything, except flight.
Liliya Starkova| Anthonie Engelbrecht
Liliya Starkova| Anthonie Engelbrecht
Camaraderie, Misread
[quote]──────────────────
| Stamina 8 | Evasion 7 | Strength 4 | Wisdom 7 | Arcane Power 7 | Accuracy 7 |
Duelling Club, 30th September 2025
interacting: @Archer Duncan
| speaking | thinking | all other dialogue |
"Actually, today is my very first day.. " She replied, voice dipping sheepishly. Adeline's head swiveled to observe the lengthy piste sat behind them. Imagining her first duel filled her with equally potent measures of excitement and fear. Months of tedious preparation would be put to the test on that very stretch of timber, and with the Birds slated to face the Snakes first this season, the possibility of these two meeting again soon was not at all lost on Adeline.
Whipping her head around to address Archer once again, Adeline flipped their question on it's head. "What about you? Is this your first season, too?" Another misinformed assumption. A thought flickered— A spare package of licorice wands sat heavily in the bottom of her satchel, beginning to be pawned. In an attempt to gain the entirety of the Slytherin girls attention, Addie decided that such a treat would make for a wonderful insensitive. After a few moments of rummaging, Adeline pulled the bag licorice wands from her satchel, and grabbed two lengths of the chewy black confection. Addie helped herself to a large chomp from her respective wand, before extending the other towards the mysterious duellist hopefully.
Camaraderie, Misread
30/09/2025 | duelling club
Archer raised a brow as Adeline said that it was not just her first season but her very first day. He watched the nervous flicker of her eyes across the piste. In hindsight it ought to have been obvious. “Congratulations,” he drawled sarcastically, “I really hope you don’t die in the coming months.
When asked if this was his first season as well an amused smirk crossed Archer’s face. “No,” he said, chuckling once more in that not quite natural sound, “I’ve been duelling since autumn of 2024.” With bashfulness that was half genuine and half for show he offered a smile, “Lost more than I’ve won but I’d still like to think I am one of Slytherin’s best.” He winked at her—a duellist could dream, but considering how bloated His self esteem was at the moment perhaps it was much more than that.
As a liquorice wand was extended towards him after much fumbling in Adeline’s bag, Archer backed away in a subtle movement. “Oh,” he uttered softly at the unexpected show of kindness. He had not known what to expect when approached by the younger duellist, and somehow, it was for certain that generosity was not one of them. Adeline might have found him full of surprises, but she certainly was not lacking her own either. The gesture was certainly a small one, minuscule even, yet something in it touched Archer’s heart. He had always been a sensitive boy; he just never knew it would present itself today. So often was Archer caught up in his own world that he had forgotten how beautiful it had the potential to be. “Thank you,” he said, about to offer a polite decline despite himself. He had never tried liquorice before, yet when was he scared of new adventures? Something must have changed as his eyes flashed a brilliant gold in the light instead of its usual dull brown. Almost shining through the shades of the hair deliberately fallen over his face, he finally turned, making eye contact with the girl.
Extending his own hand in retrieval of the faux wand, he placed a hand over his mouth as he brought the candy up for a taste. Taking a most refined nibble he could not help but grimace at the exotic, almost medicinal taste. Taking the tip, bitten off slightly, out of his mouth Archer stared at it for a few, brief seconds, before retaining his elusive demeanour and turning away again, sliding the wand back into its packaging. He casted a wayward glance back at Adeline. “With all due respect, this has no right being a sweet,” he said, laughing. But at least the heart was there.
@Adeline Spinks
I am not even singed. My wings are untouched. You use them for everything, except flight.
Liliya Starkova| Anthonie Engelbrecht
Liliya Starkova| Anthonie Engelbrecht
Camaraderie, Misread
[quote]──────────────────
| Stamina 8 | Evasion 7 | Strength 4 | Wisdom 7 | Arcane Power 7 | Accuracy 7 |
Duelling Club, 30th September 2025
interacting: @Archer Duncan
| speaking | thinking | all other dialogue |
As if someone had flipped a switch, the strange duelist retreated into herself once more. "With all due respect, this has no right being a sweet," The Slytherin girl chuckled as the licorice wand was stored away delicately, presumably for later disposal. Adeline managed to conjure a laugh as well, though a bit forced, and undeniably a touch awkward. "I can't say I blame you. It can be a bit of an acquired taste." She popped the last bit of her ink-black candy into her mouth.
"So. You've been at this since last fall, huh?" she chirped, drawing the conversation back to duelling once more. The Ravenclaw stuffed her wand wrapper in her back pocket. "That’s quite impressive." She flicked her gaze up to Archer, blue eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. "Even if you have lost more matches than you’ve won." A teasing edge slipped into her voice, though she did mean what she had said. "I'd say just surviving this long puts you in better shape than me." The soft warmth reflected in her eyes shown that she meant that, too.
The next words spilled out impulsively. "Maybe one of these days you can show me how it's done?" She gulped. Too forward. The young Raven scrambled to twist things into a more playful light. "Or.. how not to blow my foot off in front of half of the school, at least." If not for her furiously fidgeting fingers, she might have actually pulled the whole nonchalant act off.
Reducio
i am genuinely sorry i have been so slow to respond - I greatly appreciate your patience with me!
Camaraderie, Misread
An acquired taste, Adeline had described. Such a phrase could have been applied to Archer as much as it could have been applied to liquorice. If anyone cherished his taste at all, it was through the tedious work of picking through the spikes around his heart. There was something about this girl, with all her anxiety yet all her eagerness, that charmed him enough for them to lower on their own accord. Adeline, however, seemed to like him with the same unconventional nature that she liked her inky black candy.
There was something almost sweet, and certainly sweeter than liquorice, in their fleeting exchange. Perhaps it was in the way of Adeline’s naïve, wet behind the ears nature, that made Archer’s defences drop, or perhaps it was simply that he had long grown exhausted from his own tense nature. He detested his sadness, yet never did he seem to have banished it away of his own volition. He whined, and yet he was sitting on his hands. It was September and thirty days into Archer’s third year; for how Iow long now had he strayed away from such a concept? This was fun, Archer decided.
Archer’s eyes sparkled hues rarely seen as Adeline complimented him. Perhaps kindness was the common language of humans after all; it was just rarely one spoken in Archer’s vicinity, much less to his face. Flashes of gold appeared in his pupils as they caught the afternoon light of the duelling hall, meeting the gaze of Adeline’s upturned eyes, and a smile crept its way up his lips. He mused a few words, and for once, it carried no edge of sarcasm or bitterness, only gentle appreciation, “How kind of you.”
“Maybe one of these days you can show me how it's done?”
Archer raised a brow at his underclassman’s words, cocking his head curiously as she swallowed back her bluntness in turn for a more reserved approach. Anxiety evident from the way she stood with uncertainty to the fidgeting of her fingers, if she was attempting the façade of a cocksure newcomer, she was failing miserably. It was a virtue to remain humble, though. For a few delicate seconds, Archer merely stared at her, scrutinising her as if deciding if she was worthy of his time. Then, decision made of her entertaining nature and provision of free sweets — however disgusting, the thought was there, Archer grinned. “Of course, I often hang about the duelling hall. I have quite the intense love-hate relationship with this sport, though I am sure you can manage it more healthily than I do.”
He checked his watch, and tapped it in a few brief signals.
Glancing back at Adeline, “For now, I must go change,” he announced, turning on his heel as he straightened, stepping away from Adeline. “Have you considered that it’s really unattractive being sweaty and tired?” With that, Archer glanced back for one fleeting moment, offered her a roguish wink, and headed towards the boy’s changing rooms.
| banner by @Adeline Spinks
I am not even singed. My wings are untouched. You use them for everything, except flight.
Liliya Starkova| Anthonie Engelbrecht
Liliya Starkova| Anthonie Engelbrecht