Book chats Pv. Ft. Robin Lockett Finished.

Date April 12, 2026 Time (morning) Location Library, Hogwarts Tags pv @Mikaela Hendricks

Reducio Any color-coded text (red/blue/green/yellow) is intended to represent the speaking/thinking character's house or former house, other characters or characters with their house unknown to me will be grey. Colored italics are thought; colored "quotations" are spoken. Uncolored italics are usually books or songs etc., while uncolored quotations are usually meant to emphasize the included word or make it sarcastic.

It was one of those Sundays when Robin ran out of things to do. He crossed off everything on his list: assignments, chores, reading ahead in DADA, reviewing past lessons . . . meaning there's a full day of free time for him to utilize.

Robin thought of doing something different than usual, like bathing himself in the sunshine that just started to shine more brightly after the passing of winter. It didn't take long before he convinced himself that reading a new book can also be considered as "something different".

The library had become Robin's second dorm room in Hogwarts—he spent so much time here, some days even more than the hours he slept in his bed the night before. The Hogwarts library is home to an endless feast of knowledge, a feast one can never finish.

Robin wandered around the shelves, glancing at each section like a customer browsing a buffet. The library was exceptionally quiet, with little to no sounds of pages flipped or books dropped. Robin had considered those noises as a staple of this space, so it felt somewhat unnerving without their presence. Not in a terrible way, just unusual. Looks like students aren't feeling very studious today, Robin thought to himself, I wonder where they all are . . . sleeping in, perhaps?

As he passed the muggle section, a particular irregularity caught his eye. Something nestled between two thick muggle history books, smaller than its neighbors, a novella with a striking title he had grown familiar with over the years—The Outsider.

The Outsider? Here?

Robin was a bit shocked. Not saying the short novel didn't earn its place in this grand library, he just felt a weird combination of excitement and confusion. The Outsider, specifically the one by French philosopher and writer Albert Camus, was Robin's favorite piece of fiction. He felt a connection with the protagonist—not with his crime of murder of course—with his unique attitude of seeing the world. It was a sense of honest indifference, which Robin only embodied half of. He considers himself as relatively indifferent towards others' suffering as long as it doesn't affect himself. This part was similar. However, Robin doesn't have the courage to be open about that. He tries to hide this part of himself with the coat of social anxiety or general introversion, unlike Meursault, who doesn't lie or intentionally hide this trait of his. That's technically what got him executed (spoiler alert), so maybe Robin just feared that same judgement.

Robin didn't bring his copy of The Outsider to Hogwarts. Well, it was technically his dad's copy, he didn't want to risk losing it, and after reading it so many times he just felt like it's time to move on. In the sense that he should read more genres of muggle fiction. There was a point when his whole understanding of muggle novels was based on The Outsider, which he had come to know was extremely inaccurate.

Despite all that, it had been some time since he last read the novella, and this one on the shelf might be a different translation. That basically counts as a different book, right?

Robin walked over and reached out his arm, then witnessed in terror as his hand brushed against that of another.

"Oh Saints, I'm so sorry . . . "

"Naw—no, it's fine." Robin retracted his hand immediately after he regained consciousness from a one-second faint. He lifted his eyes to scan the other person. She was a girl wearing jeans and a blue cardigan, brown eyes the same color as her hair. She looked young, probably a first year student like him, at most second. Robin squinted his eyes a bit, feeling like he'd seen her before. Probably just on the halls, or if they're both Ravenclaw, maybe in the common room? More than half a year had passed since his enrollment in Hogwarts, it wouldn't be completely out of the realm of possibilities if he felt Déjà vu towards a stranger.

After a brief moment of observation, the realization that this girl was also reaching for The Outsider had finally kicked in. Robin pushed up his glasses to ease the awkwardness, took one step backwards and forced open his mouth while gesturing towards the shelf: "The Outsider . . . it's a uh, a good book. Very interesting and memorable in my opinion."

Code by Fawkes Chaos

WC: 268 words Interactions: Robin Lockett Sunday, April 12th, 2026:DATE Morning:TIME

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Reducio @Robin Lockett

I lifted my head to see the other person. The first thing I noticed was his long hair. To his shoulders. Well, it was new. You don't see lots of long-haired boys nowadays. It looked... Cool, actually.

'The Outsider . . . it's a uh, a good book. Very interesting and memorable in my opinion.'

Oh. So, he must be a fellow Ravenclaw. That, or someone extremely smart for their house. He can't be older than a second year, and he already read the book. Great.

I don't remember him, though. I'd remember someone with a hair like that. Maybe we didn't share lots of classes together. However, I shrugged.

"Yeah, well, I still hadn't read it... But in that genre, I'd go with Crime and Punishment, or The Metamorphosis." I said, nodding. One hundred years of solitude was also on the list, but I didn't mention it. And was this a good time to say that my favorite book was actually Alice in Wonderland?

No, he seemed too mature for it. I needed to grow up, too.

Anyway, I still didn't meet his eyes. Maybe from embarrassment, or the fact that my fingers were still burning from where his fingers brushed them. Not in a bad way, though. It was just... Unexpected.

Date April 12, 2026 Time (morning) Location Library, Hogwarts Tags pv @Mikaela Hendricks

Reducio Any color-coded text (red/blue/green/yellow) is intended to represent the speaking/thinking character's house or former house, other characters or characters with their house unknown to me will be grey. Colored italics are thought; colored "quotations" are spoken. Uncolored italics are usually books or songs etc., while uncolored quotations are usually meant to emphasize the included word or make it sarcastic.

The girl lifted her eyes a bit when Robin spoke, but hey still hadn't made eye contact. Perfect, he thought. Looking directly into someone's eyes had always been a challenge for him. It felt mildly uncomfortable, vulnerable, like you're laid bare for them to see. Because if you peer into the gaze of another, they will in turn peer into your soul.

In response to Robin's recommendation, the brown-haired girl suggested her own: "Yeah, well, I still hadn't read it . . . But in that genre, I'd go with Crime and Punishment, or The Metamorphosis."

He had heard of both those works, "classics", according to his Magbob father who was more familiar with muggle literature. Robin himself, sadly, had only read The Metamorphosis in full. What books he read were entirely dictated by his father's bookshelf, as his parents usually bought him Dark Arts related books as gifts, and the Nightingale family just straight-up sent him essays on magical theories. Jeremy Lockett was a busy man, so his bookshelf mainly consisted of shorter novels or even short story collections. The Metamorphosis was small enough for him, but Crime and Punishment failed to make the list.

"I-I'll give Crime and Punishment a read sometime." He kind of bit his tongue at the start, "I've read The Metamorphosis before, once."

With an awkward pause, Robin once again realized that he was interrupting the girl's reading time—she was about to try his favorite book, no less—so he stepped forward, grabbed The Outsider off the shelf and handed it over to her: "Sorry for bumping into you, I read it already, so uh . . . here you go."

Another moment of hesitation. Should I introduce myself? What is the expected level of socialization after discovering a shared hobby? Eh, naw. Robin dissuaded himself with how the girl also seemed to "not thrive" in social interactions, to say the least. Maybe even somewhat more so than Robin, as he easily gets excited and talkative when the topic is of his interest.

His hand is still holding the book, outstretched, waiting for an acceptance or rejection of this worthwhile read.

Code by Fawkes Chaos

WC: 285 words Interactions: Robin Lockett Sunday, April 12th, 2026:DATE Morning:TIME

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Reducio Sorry for relate reply, I was a bit busy today since it was my birthday OOC, but here I am!

Reducio @Robin Lockett

I nodded in understanding. Now I was pretty sure he was a Ravencaw, like me. He had already read The Metamorphosis, so he was probably a muggle-blooded one. Or a wizard-born really curious. Either way, I decided that he wasn't that bad. He seemed to be pretty smart, actually. Despite his hair choices. I had learned from my dad that the smartest people usually took the worse styling choices.

I nodded as he handled me the book.

"Sorry for bumping into you, I read it already, so uh . . . here you go."

I took it, hesitating a bit. I had to force my hand to stop shaking like it was being chased by a lion. I cleared my throat, trying to make up a sentence.

"Thanks, uh..." I hesitated, again. I didn't have his name. He still hadn't introduced himself. But I wanted to thank the guy who let me have the book, even if it was just a gentle nod.

I just bowed my head to him a bit, respectfully, waiting for him to give me at least a name to thank at. He seemed to be nervous, too. Maybe he was like me: Someone who still didn't know what to do in this kind of... Social situations.

Date April 12, 2026 Time (morning) Location Library, Hogwarts Tags pv @Mikaela Hendricks

Reducio Any color-coded text (red/blue/green/yellow) is intended to represent the speaking/thinking character's house or former house, other characters or characters with their house unknown to me will be grey. Colored italics are thought; colored "quotations" are spoken. Uncolored italics are usually books or songs etc., while uncolored quotations are usually meant to emphasize the included word or make it sarcastic.

The girl took the book out of Robin's hands and muttered thanks, but her tone was hesitant, unsure about something. "Thanks, uh . . . " She made an intentional pause, one often used with the purpose of encouraging conversation from the other party. Robin compressed his lips out of embarrassment. Looks like his assessment was wrong, he should've introduced himself.

"Sorry, I'm Robin Lockett. Robin like the bird and Lockett like the necklace thing but with two 't's at the end." He instinctively pushed up his glasses, then retracted his hand behind his back to stop this habitual motion.

The girl was the one who asked his name, so Robin thought it only fair to ask hers back: " . . . What's your name? Oh and I'm from Ravenclaw by the way, first year, i-if you couldn't tell already." Not to be stereotypical, but their encounter was very Ravenclaw in nature. Robin also wore his Hogwarts uniform this weekend—like most other weekends—but he only wore the white button-down and trousers, so there wasn't anything giving his house away visually.

The library was quiet indeed. Sunlight shined through the glass windows onto the space between them. Some of the light painted her hair a rich shade of bronze. Robin rubbed his fingers behind his back, eyes darting between the window, the bookshelf, and her walnut-colored eyes. Robin occasionally glanced at her eyes in attempt to focus on their exchange, naively hoping that she wouldn't catch his nervous gaze.

The girl seemed quiet and reserved like him, but he could imagine her also perking up and becoming more talkative when the topic relates to books. Robin's gaze finally settled upon the novella she was holding. Would she have finished the book the next time they meet? He then mentally scoffed at his assumption that they would talk to each other again. Sure, they're both students living in Hogwarts, they'll probably meet in classes or in the common room if his assumptions of her being a Ravenclaw was correct. But who's to say she'd be willing to share her thoughts on The Outsider with a randomly encountered peer?

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omg happy delayed birthday definitely no problem, honestly responding in a day I think is already pretty fast with this site's average? I just often respond asap because I'm trying to avoid studying (unlike Robin lol)

Code by Fawkes Chaos

WC: 284 words Interactions: Robin Lockett Sunday, April 12th, 2026:DATE Morning:TIME

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Reducio @Robin Lockett

I nodded. Robin Lockett. Yeah, I kinda remember him now. We shared one or two classes, I remember his name being called out once or twice. But I'm usually good with names, not faces. That's why I didn't remember him at first.

"I-I'm Mikaela. Mikaela Hendricks." I stuttered, again. Why did I have to stutter each time I wanted to introduce myself? It was starting to be embarrassing. I constantly avoided his gaze, trying to look at his glasses of forehead, but never directly his eyes. "Mikaela with K, and Hendricks with C-K, not just K." I added in a mutter.

"A-And I'm a Ravenclaw, too." I said before I could think we'll of it. A strand of hair escaped my previously done bun, and nervously, I tucked it behind my ear.

And now I wasn't sure what to say. I don't even know why was I so nervous about it all. My heart raced in my chest. It's not like I was being chased by a lion, and honestly, I thought I had overcome this stupid stage of getting nervous each time I met someone new. But here it was all over again.

At the distance, outside the windows, I managed to hear some laughs. Some group of friends must've been chatting along by the wall, near the window. At least the place wasn't that quiet anymore.

Date April 12, 2026 Time (morning) Location Library, Hogwarts Tags pv @Mikaela Hendricks

Reducio Any color-coded text (red/blue/green/yellow) is intended to represent the speaking/thinking character's house or former house, other characters or characters with their house unknown to me will be grey. Colored italics are thought; colored "quotations" are spoken. Uncolored italics are usually books or songs etc., while uncolored quotations are usually meant to emphasize the included word or make it sarcastic.

Mikaela Hendricks . . . Robin felt like he heard that name before. Now that he thought of it, he remembered her answering questions perfectly in a class they shared. Robin brightened up at the idea that they'd be seeing each other in class, and now that they're acquainted—well, kind of—he would be able to discuss homework and review tests with someone equally passionate about academic topics.

Also, there would be more opportunities to share book reviews, so there's a bigger chance he'd get to hear her thoughts on The Outsider.

Robin loves books, another thing he loves is seeing others appreciate the works he took a liking to. People often don't understand how his mind functions or why it operates differently from them, but Robin can feel a sense of understanding when they validate his interests—at least there's one thing normal about his preferences. This understanding feels like a wanderer, cold from the winter snow, dipping into a warm bath prepared for him by strangers. Uneasy, but nonetheless warming to the heart.

Mikaela looked nervous after introducing herself. Robin could relate, he'd be equally nervous if he hadn't been bombarded with extrovert energy this past year. He still gets nervous socializing, of course, but he's more familiar with the things that can happen afterwards or go wrong in the process. In other words, he's a bit more used to it now.

In a moment of quietness, Robin heard some chattering along the walls. It was the weekends so the rules weren't that strict, and the group wasn't too loud anyways. Their conversation became a rather soothing background music in his mind, as he prepared himself to open his mouth and say the following words: "It looks like you're also here to read." He took another deep breath, "I'll go get a different book, would you . . . mind, us sitting at the same table? Across the table, maybe?"

Robin stared into the void next to her, voluntarily throwing away the focus in his eyes and witnessing his world blur in front of him.

The excitement of someone picking up The Outsider got to him after all, he didn't want to let go of the opportunity to hear someone's thoughts. Noah's thoughts were the only ones he heard, and his opening sentence was "I can see why you like this", then he proceeded to analyze the literary devices instead of the plot or the message. Robin loves literary analysis too, but he also craved the exchange of interpretations—that's what excites him the most in a book review.

Code by Fawkes Chaos

WC: 284 words Interactions: Robin Lockett Sunday, April 12th, 2026:DATE Morning:TIME

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Reducio @Robin Lockett

My breath hitched for a moment.

No one, in my twelve years of existence, had ever asked me to join them in a... reading session?

The only person I ever shared a table to read at was Mr. Weatherby. And he usually wasn't even there!

I hesitated a bit before stuttering:

"Uh, no— I mean, yes! Yes, I'd like to." I mentally slapped my face. Great, first time doing this and you already ruined it. To keep avoiding his gaze, I decided that the books in the shelf about muggle transportation were very interesting to look at. I felt, embarrassed, how my cheeks began to flush. Oh Saints, here we go again.

I managed to make up some courage for myself and looked at him again.

"I could get you the book of Crime and Punishment." Once again, my mouth worked faster than my brain. It was really a great book, and I wanted someone else who wasn't my 70-year-old neighbor to read it. I could ask my dad to ask Mr. Weatherby for the book. He'd send it to me, and I could give it to him.

Why was I even thinking about this? I didn't want to force him to read it so fast. And he probably had better stuff to do.

Date April 12, 2026 Time (morning) Location Library, Hogwarts Tags pv @Mikaela Hendricks

Reducio Any color-coded text (red/blue/green/yellow) is intended to represent the speaking/thinking character's house or former house, other characters or characters with their house unknown to me will be grey. Colored italics are thought; colored "quotations" are spoken. Uncolored italics are usually books or songs etc., while uncolored quotations are usually meant to emphasize the included word or make it sarcastic.

Robin didn't anticipate how excruciating the wait would be. Thinking back to that day, it was likely only seconds between his invitation and her response, but his awfully loud heartbeat gave his body the illusion of death, extending his last breath to near infinity.

Mikaela hesitated, but ultimately produced an answer: "Uh, no—I mean, yes! Yes, I'd like to." Robin was unsure for the first few words if she meant "yes I mind and I'd rather not" or "yes I'd love to ", but that doubt only lasted for a moment. The Ravenclaw girl, evidently nervous and introverted like him, said yes.

Robin almost let out a sigh of relief. After all the events that occurred this year, especially his horrifying encounter with a certain—oh, he can't even think of her right now. It had been months since the incident, but Robin still has the urge to curl up in a ball every time he thinks of that cursed day. He made a surprising amount of new friends after coming to Hogwarts, and they served as a very useful distraction for him. Robin realized that, like he persuaded himself to think on the train when he first initiated small talk with his two compartment buddies, relationships are useful. He never thought they would be useful in the sense that they keep him sane, but here he is.

In this instance, even though he and Mikaela had just met, Robin thought that she has the potential to become a comforting presence to him. Probably not intentionally, just to be clear. If they really do start hanging out, Robin can easily imagine a relaxing afternoon of silent reading, or a study session that can keep his mind occupied.

Of course, getting to share his favorite book was a major reason for Robin to initiate the invite. However, with his normalcy being shattered and the cracks unable to fully seal, standing beside someone who vaguely reminded Robin of himself but hadn't seen true terror—it's like a reassurance. A reassurance to him that life can return to its previous, peaceful state.

Something he didn't want to acknowledge, however, was that lizards grow a new tail after their old one is cut off. Their tails don't "come back", the new one is just a pale imitation of its predecessor.

"I could get you the book of Crime and Punishment." Mikaela's next sentence pulled him back to the present. Robin refocused his brain and nodded, "Thank you, that would be great." Robin's voice didn't reflect his mental tiredness, it wasn't shaky at all, just the same neutral tone he always carried. He tried and was somewhat successful at putting the incident past him, as he hadn't thought of it for quite some time up until a few seconds ago. Now is not the time to break that streak.

"Do you uh, know where it is in the library? Or maybe you have it in your dorm room?" Robin just realized that he wasn't sure what she would do next. Did she plan to leave the library and come back just to bring him the novel? Or was she talking about some other day, like they'd meet in class and she'd give it to him then? Robin hoped he wouldn't inconvenience Mikaela by accepting the book, but a new read is always going to be tempting for him.

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I honestly kind of experimented in this reply. I have a backdating rp coming up that plans to traumatize Robin, and I felt like this would be a great way to add some complexity to his eagerness to form relationships. I tried to make it vague since the rp isn't out yet and I don't want to contradict it, but either way most are internal thoughts so even if they do contradict, I might come back later and make some minor adjustments, though even in that case the main idea will stay the same.