Enemies over a book
Information:
1. Word
2.3. The words in Japanese are thought to be expressed out loud, the revelio below is the translationCode: Select all
[color=#020066]Color[/color]
4. @Atlas Woodrow
This morning, I headed the library. My goal was to improve my English, which isn't exactly stellar at the moment. I arrived in Ireland only a few days before my 11th birthday, and I still wasn't 12. So, I'd been in England for less than a year, and I still hadn't gotten used to the speed of their speech, nor to having to read quickly. I often avoided participating in class to avoid being teased about my accent.
I lived in Japan until I was 10, and there I mainly spoke Japanese because English isn't taught in Japanese schools. My dad taught me English, and I practiced it whenever I went to Ireland to visit my family. But when we arrived in Ireland and I had to go to school and speak English all the time, I was completely lost. Sometimes I'd speak Japanese instead of English, and the other children would make fun of me a lot. It was hell. I don't want that to happen again.
Today I'm going to borrow a book that's a bit harder to read, and I'm going to try to finish it in two days. So I need a big book… Which one would be perfect? I spotted a big book above my head that looked interesting, so I reached out to grab it.
Last edited by Ōkami Faoláin on 19 Aug 2026, 08:22, edited 1 time in total.
Enemies over a book
Dialogue, Thoughts
IC date: September 12th, 2026
Location: Hogwarts Library
Time: 10:00 AM
Mentioning: @Ōkami FaoláinWord Count: 370It had been a dull Saturday morning where the sun was too bright, the common room was too loud, and Atlas was too bored. Without much to do with his leisure time, skimming ahead in the textbooks was the usual thing. Today, he'd run out of textbooks... except for the history ones but he didn't care so much for those.
He entered the library which reminded him of Flourish and Blotts minus the chaos. It was rather empty, with only a small handful of students scattered around. Perhaps most were too preoccupied with their friends than to study like some overachieving nerd. He was not one of those people, unfortunately. Atlas was the kind who weren't given the privilege of knowing of the wizarding world until two months ago. He'd found trouble making friends and fitting in in a place he felt so alien to.
Little did he know, he'd find some more trouble today.
Questions such as "How will I ever fit in?" rang through his head as he pondered his way around the library. He weaved around the shelves full of awfully foreign books, containing titles and chapters and paragraphs with words he'd never even heard of. Then, the answer hit him: "No, I'm never going to fit in."
So far, he'd receive good marks for his homework. So far, there hadn't been much homework. Even if he were to somehow soldier through the year with full marks, what more would he be than some overachieving nerd with no friends?
Atlas trudged down one of the many corridors lined with shelves and found himself eyeing a thick, leather book. Golden stitching on the spine told that it provided information about the history of the Dark Arts. Fascinating. He liked the Dark Arts- no, Defense Against the Dark Arts, the class. Perhaps this could make him appreciate history again...
As his hand reached the book, a smaller hand landed on top of his. Atlas' eyes darted towards a tiny girl, whose head barely reached his chin. He'd seen her around the common room a couple times. Another Ravenclaw. Great. Now someone wants to steal my book. So very fortunate. His face shifted into a scrutinizing scowl without his permission.
Stamina: 8 | Evasion: 2 | Strength: 4 | Wisdom: 6 | Arcane Power: 9 | Accuracy: 6
Impartial | Y2 Ability | Y3 Ability
Enemies over a book
Information:
1. Word
2.3. The words in Japanese are thought to be expressed out loud, the revelio below is the translationCode: Select all
[color=#020066]Color[/color]
4. @Atlas Woodrow
As I reached for the book, someone else reached out, and I accidentally placed my hand on his. I quickly pulled it away, started by the contact.
The young boy was enormous; I had to crane my neck to see his face… and I recognized him immediately…
"Atlas…"
I knew him. He was a first-year like me, in Ravenclaw. He didn't attend classes like I did, but during roll call, his name was called, and I remembered it because in Japanese, atlas is アトラス. It's a beautiful name, one I remembered because of its beauty. It makes me think of travel and relaxation.
But to my eyes, Atlas wasn't relaxed. A grimace appeared on his lips. I still had to crane my neck to see his expression. I hated craned my neck; it made my scar very visible. Judging by the look on his face, I'd better apologize. Unfortunately, my voice wasn't going to help; it was drawing and deep, and my accent wasn't helping either.
“Sorry, Atlas, do you want the book, or can I still take it?”
I secretly hoped this moment would end quickly. I wanted to be alone to work on my rather mediocre English, and a classmate wanted the same book as me… I was at an impasse, and I felt an inexplicable tension rising in my stomach… was it because of the contact of our hands, or the fact that my scar was highlighted by my classmate's height?
Enemies over a book
Dialogue, Thoughts
IC date: September 12th, 2026
Location: Hogwarts Library
Time: 10:00 AM
Mentioning: @Ōkami FaoláinWord Count: 265"I don't know, you tell me; do I want the book or not?"
His tone was sarcastic, with eyes lazily and disappointedly gazing at her as if bedazzled by her foolishness. Of course, he wanted that book. Why else would his hand reach for it?
Speaking of his hand, he was reminded that hers had touched his.
And somehow, that sent Atlas into a panic.
He had not only scared, or worse, repulsed the poor girl with an unsightly scowl, but had also made an insensitive, sarcastic comment following her apology. What a disaster. She must think I'm awful. He clenched the book, which was now dangling at his side
Atlas continued to study her. As judging and calculating he may have seemed, he didn't mean any of that at heart...not really. Of course, that was impossible for anyone to tell. He did, however, find something strange; the small girl knew his name. This must mean he had stood out to her in some way. Whether in a positive or negative way, it didn't matter now, not after his rude behavior.
He concluded that she definitely hated him. That was... damaging to his ego upsetting. What if she had many friends and told them all about the insolent boy she met in the library? Then the entire Ravenclaw common room- no, the entire school would think he was no more decent than a scornful pig wearing a crown.
His once condescending stare morphed into one of horror. Still observing his nameless Ravenclaw classmate, Atlas hoped she didn't notice him turn white as a sheet.
Stamina: 8 | Evasion: 2 | Strength: 4 | Wisdom: 6 | Arcane Power: 9 | Accuracy: 6
Impartial | Y2 Ability | Y3 Ability
Enemies over a book
Dialogue, Thoughts
IC date: September 12th
Location: Hogwarts Library
Time: 10:00 AM
Mentioning: @N/AWord Count: 224It was September 12th, which meant it was the 12th day of school. Not even two weeks into the school year had Atlas stained his barely surviving reputation, if he even had one. He was certain being unknown was far better than being despised. Unfortunately, he had just taken the first step from the former to the latter.
He could fix this... no, he couldn't. The boy had let his guard down, forgotten he wasn't allowed to be his miserable self, and shown his miserable yet truthful image to a fellow Ravenclaw. A social disaster and suicide this innocent trip to the library had become...
Atlas quickly evaluated the situation. The damage had already been done, and he'd have to bend over backwards to reverse it 100%; an apology simply wouldn't cut it. To befriend her was the most effective option, but that would be insulting to his dignity if her were to desperately chase her around begging for forgiveness.
He concluded the best course of action was to leave at once.
The book was shoved into its rightful spot in the blink of an eye, and off Atlas was, running down the aisle and turning out of the girl's view. He only slowed down when he left the labyrinth of shelves as to not attract unwanted attention and swiftly headed out the library.
ReducioAtlas has left the thread.
Stamina: 8 | Evasion: 2 | Strength: 4 | Wisdom: 6 | Arcane Power: 9 | Accuracy: 6
Impartial | Y2 Ability | Y3 Ability