Strings of Serendipity
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. | x x ──────────────────────  STA 5 | EVA 8| STR 4 | WIS 6 | ARC 6 | ACC 6xxxxxxxxxxxx—xxxxxxxxxxxxcode by ev
MENTIONS: @Lucille Rosenhart, @Milica Vranekova  ────────────────────── |
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xxxxxxxx𝔇inner had long ended and frost had begun to settle outside the windows like lacework. Many were huddled near the fire or snugly tucked under their sheets, chasing warmth wherever they could find it. More disciplined performers had filled the room during the earlier hours of the day, but on this particular evening, the only one who could be found here was Cecilia Merrick. With her hunger sated and her spirits high, Cecilia sat on a low stool with a pedal harp pressed against her shoulder. Her lips curled into a faint smile before she brushed her fingers against the taut strings. Stray scarlet strands fell loose from the pins in her hair and tumbled over her face. As her hands moved, the flickering spotlight shone from above and illuminated her curls like wild flames. A faint scent of lavender filled the air as the melody echoed throughout the room due to the high, domed ceiling. Merlin’s beard. I should have worn a thicker sweater, she lamented as the chill of the air pricked her skin. Still, her smile stretched wider as she continued to play. Cecilia knew this moment would not last, for the humidity of this hour left her strings prone to snapping. She wished to revel in the moment while every string remained intact and rapidly yet smoothly swept her fingers across the strings. Although her fingers began to hurt, the pain felt worth it upon hearing the beautiful sound of the glissando that mimicked a spinning wheel. She dearly missed playing music like this – freely, with no tutor or grandmother hovering behind her while critiquing her every move. Furthermore, her love for the harp had slowly turned into a forbidden affair after her shift in focus caused her piano technique to falter noticeably. For whatever reason, her grandparents seemed to prefer listening to her play the piano. Though Cecilia took no issue with the grand instrument, it failed to capture her heart the way its fellow chordophone had. They never could appreciate its beauty, she thought bitterly before her gaze fixed onto one of the paintings on the wall. Though they nearly gave her a fright upon entering, she now felt comforted to see her framed audience listening intently as her fingers glided across the strings. This was not simply because of her love for performance but because she felt somewhat spooked. ────𓃦──── As an insomniac, Cecilia had grown accustomed to wandering the halls during late hours. However, last night, she made the fatal error of talking her roommate’s ear off until she could no longer bear it. Consequently, Milica promptly silenced Cecilia with a horrific tale of monsters who stalked the castle and were drawn to particularly loud noises. Frightened, she tossed and turned for what felt like hours before drifting off to sleep. Now here she was, an exhausted witch who played her harp in hopes that its delicate melody would ward off her terrifying thoughts. Given the soft sounds her instrument produced, Cecilia knew that only a tasteless fool would refer to its melody as noise. Yet every now and then, her eyes would trail towards the door when she thought that she heard an unusual sound. Then it happened again. For a moment, she could have sworn she heard footsteps growing louder and louder. Her breath hitched until they finally came to a halt. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she continued to pluck the strings. She considered the possibility of someone playing a trick on her, most likely in retaliation for her antics. However, any logical reasoning flew out the window when she heard the heavy oak doors creak slowly. She was definitely not making this up. In an instant, a string on her harp snapped and Cecilia nearly lept out of her skin. She veered towards the door. “Who’s there?” she called out while firmly gripping the harp. “Show yourself! I am wielding a very heavy instrument, and I will swing it if I must,” she warned sternly. This was a blatant lie. She had struggled to move the harp with the levitating charm earlier, and there was no way she could swing such a heavy instrument with her current strength. Even if she could, she was far too frightened to do so. Still, she took comfort in the fact that whoever – or whatever – was on the other side of the door did not necessarily know that. Perhaps if she were of sound mind, reason would have led her to believe that there was simply a poor soul at the door who wished to practice. Unfortunately, her exhaustion allowed her fears to prevail instead. |
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Last edited by Cecilia Merrick on 8 Dec 2025, 20:29, edited 1 time in total.
Strings of Serendipity
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When the world is quiet, silence itself seems to echo. Lucille had learned that a long time ago, ever since she had begun making trips to the Room of Requirement, at first daily, but now once a week. Why, you may ask? The room was the only accessible place for Lucille to make a decent cup of tea, what with being prohibited from entering the kitchens. Of course, she could ask the house elves to make some for her, but Lucille felt she most loved drinking tea made by her own hands, aside from her family's, of course. It was a warm, comforting experience, one she did not wish to have in a crowded common room or a chaotic dining hall. No, it was meant to be private. As she walked through the halls, Lucille tried her best to stay silent. Hogwarts at night had a specific chill to it and, even though it was not after curfew, students had retired to their dorms nonetheless. The castle itself seemed to tell you that this was the time for ghosts, not for you. Despite that strange feeling, Lucille would persist, listening to her every footstep echo, as if announcing her presence. She reached the fifth floor, and was just about to continue her journey through the halls when... music. A faint, pleasant symphony greeted her ears, coming from below. Although part of her said that it must be one of the ghosts, and to let them be, another part of her urged her to keep going, to investigate the rooms below. Of course, Lucille listened to that second part of her. She made her way down the staircase, footsteps silent now as she strained her ears for the sound. It was closer now, and she sped up slightly, eager to find the source. It led her, inevitably, to the rehearsal room. Where else would one have the instruments to play such a lovely sound? She placed a hand on the door, intending to push it open and find the source of the noise, but then she paused. This could very well be one of the many ghosts found around the castle, and she would not want to interrupt. Best to sneak in instead. With that thought in mind, Lucille began to gently push open the door. That worked out much worse than she had planned. The old oak doors creaked loudly in protest, and the music stopped suddenly, with the sharp twang of a broken string. Lucille held her breath, hesitating, only for whoever was inside to threaten her. Through the crack in the door, Lucille had seen a blur of green and red, and now nothing, only a harp. She swallowed, before finally opening the door further and peeking her head inside, nervous but, as always, bolder than she should be. Inside was hardly something to be afraid of. In fact, someone she recognized. Cecilia. Leo's friend from the Quidditch game. Breathing a sigh of relief, Lucille smiled, stepping inside fully now. Cecilia looked just as nervous as she had been. "That's quite a welcome, Cecilia. But I do wonder what you were planning to do to me with a harp of all things." Lucille laughed a little, peeking outside one last time before closing the door. Like before, the corridor was silent, empty. The castle seemed to have shrunk itself down to only consist of this room and this room alone. She wondered what Cecilia might be doing at this hour alone, but she supposed playing music was a better reason than searching for a cup of tea. Thus, she remained quiet on the subject, instead approaching what had led her here in the first place. "That was beautiful. I just had to see who was playing, although I am a bit sorry for the interruption." The energy that was often a hallmark of Lucille's character seemed to drift away at night, leaving a warm, relaxed, gentle soul, with none of the exuberance that her daylight counterpart might have. Lucille walked further into the room, pulling out a piano bench and taking a seat, facing Cecilia. She did not know how to play the piano, but it had been the first chair her eyes had landed on. | |
stats sta 7 eva 7 str 6 wis 5 arc 6 acc 4 abilities calming presence action there she goes |   |
| sta 7 eva 7 str 6 wis 5 arc 6 acc 4 calming presence | iNPC: Antoine de Laurent |