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Post by Minxie on Aug 4, 2011 21:55:54 GMT
Setting:
It has been a long day for the staff of Haversham Manor, and for many had been a restless night previously. The usually quiet and well-behaved ghosts of the old house had been causing trouble and making noises for the majority of the sleeping hours. Those who were more sensitive to spirit-related activity had been plagued almost constantly, and even those who were usually immune to such things had been bothered.
Any student who is of Lorekind will know that it was spirits, though they have not been told why they were restless. Any student who is not of Lorekind will have been told that there were rodents in the wall-cavities. Whether or not they believe it is another matter...
***
[[ Mallory Bijou --- Sofa nearest the fireplace, South Common Room ]]
She hadn't slept all night. Mallory's usually bright-eyed and bushy-tailed demeanour was somewhat dampened by dark rings and listless movement. Some spirit had been knocking on her window and wall from the moment she snuggled down into her feather-duvet-and-pillow-covered bed, until she heard words that sounded like an incantation outside her bedroom door at half past six in the morning.
By then, of course, it was far too late to go to sleep, since breakfast was at half past seven. Mallory had instead taken a very long shower, and was down for breakfast at a time much earlier than her usual rush-in-grab-something-quickly-and-rush-to-class. The teachers had said something about rodents having got into the wall-cavities as an explanation for the constant racket of the night, but she knew differently.
Ghosts. Why is it always ghosts? For that matter, why is it always something? Couldn't things just be normal for once??
Free time after class and evening meal found the girl curled up on a sofa by the pleasantly roaring fire, staring into the flames but not really seeing them.
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phyria
Dozing
Leo Stillman - The Elemental
Posts: 63
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Post by phyria on Aug 5, 2011 3:24:07 GMT
[ Leo Stillman --- Chair next to a table to the right of the sofa, South Common Room ]]
Leo looked up at the dark sky as he walked in from late practice. He tended to practice late when he got the chance to although occasionally he would get into trouble for being out too late - on this note he sped up before he could encounter the gardener again – as he tended to lose track of time. It was a reasonably nice night anyway although last night he had woken to scraping noises near his head as if someone was scratching on the walls outside. They had been told it was rodents and he wasn’t about to think too hard on it, he simply accepted it as the truth.
He managed to get inside without being seen and walked through the quiet hallways, wondering whether other members of his team would be in the common room. Even if they weren’t he needed to get some of his literature homework done.
He opened the door and peered in, smiling lightly at the warm glow of the fire before looking around. None of his team seemed to be in here. He shrugged and walked in anyway, depositing his bag next to a chair then sitting in said chair, placing his homework on the table in front of him.
It was only then that he noticed the other in the room. She had been blocked from his sight by the sofa.
“Hey” he spoke, softly in case she was asleep. She wasn’t really moving that much as far as he could see.
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Post by Minxie on Aug 24, 2011 0:14:21 GMT
I guess, though, if it hadn't been ghosts, it would have been...oh I don't know, demons or boggarts or trolls or---
A voice broke Mallory from her internal ranting about her disturbed sleep, and she blinked in surprise. It took her a few moments to adjust to the different lighting, and then she summoned up a smile from she-had-no-idea-where. She liked Leo - what wasn't there to like? He was fit, athletic, and always seemed so gentle. She wriggled into a better sitting position and wiggled her fingers in a sort-of-wave.
"Hi," she greeted him. "Sorry, I didn't see you come in." She added. "Busy day?"
There was never any harm in being cheerful, and who knew- the conversation might be able to take her mind off her uncomfortable thoughts.
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phyria
Dozing
Leo Stillman - The Elemental
Posts: 63
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Post by phyria on Aug 28, 2011 12:58:09 GMT
Leo smiled easily in return. He had seen her around the school before - Mallory? Yeah, that was it. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to remember her name it was just not one of his strong points. He remembered faces but could never quite remember names.
“I’ve been practising for the first game of the season. Although the gardener might have preferred it if I didn’t practise so late and so often” he gave her a half sheepish look and laughed nervously “Please don’t tell him I said that.”
He always felt nervous around girls and the closer her got to them, the more nervous he became. They often seemed so small and fragile and he was terrified of inadvertently hurting them. Boys he was fine, he could be as rough as he liked on the sports field, but in the school…he pushed the thoughts from his head. She was on the sofa and he was being friendly. No harm done.
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Post by Minxie on Sept 11, 2011 21:58:26 GMT
Mallory chuckled at the comment about the gardener. She found the man slightly unnerving herself; he didn't seem entirely normal... Still. It wasn't as though he was dangerous, so far as she could tell. He just really, really liked his plants.
"I shan't," she assured him. She settled more comfortably on the sofa and grinned over. "He's a bit...weird." She told Leo, in the tones of someone sharing a secret. "Someone who likes plants so much must be...really weird." She added, giggling a little.
Mallory, you sound like a moron. Pack it in, will you? She told herself firmly.
"Did you hear all that ruckus last night?" She decided to change the subject. "Did it keep you awake?"
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phyria
Dozing
Leo Stillman - The Elemental
Posts: 63
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Post by phyria on Sept 15, 2011 16:22:54 GMT
Leo smiled as she agreed with him on the gardener. He liked the man enough when he wasn’t yelling at him for accidentally crushing his flowers or being out late. He was a little weird though although personally Leo was easily as obsessed with sports as the man was with plants so he couldn’t judge.
He nodded at her question about the noise last night “Something in the walls kept scratching on and off all night. I swear something was waiting for me to almost drop off each time before starting again. That’s a bit stupid though huh?” Malicious rodents. Amazing deduction there genius.
He switched his attention back to the work in front of him. Suddenly, in the presence of Mallory, he didn’t really want to complete it any more. He looked up at Mallory “What subjects do you take? Sorry, I’m terrible at remembering these things”
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Post by Minxie on Sept 25, 2011 17:07:13 GMT
Mallory beamed as she resettled herself in her chair. Even as tired as she was, she loved to be social, and it was nice to chat to Leo. They didn't really cross paths as much as she might have liked.
"Art, Fashion, Lit and Philosophy," she answered, tucking some hair behind her ear in an unconscious gesture. "Must be mad to take so much on at once, huh?" She giggled. "But it's kinda interesting. I mean, the first ones are. I don't even remember why I took Philosophy..." she trailed off, blushing.
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Post by angeloftheodd on Oct 1, 2011 9:21:33 GMT
"Philosophy expands your mind, teaches you to explore you views, discuss and understand the views of others..."
Dante moved from where he had listened a moment in the doorway, crossing the common room with a slight swagger. Being out of school hours, he was dressed in his usual attire of jeans, t shirt and a leather jacket comprised of more patches and mending than the original leather.
He let himself collapse into a chair by the window and flipped open a sketchbook he hitherto carried under his arm.
"... and of course it looks good on a university app."
Despite the gloom of night he still, as always, wore dark glasses to obscure his eyes. This evening they were especially useful the hide deep black rings that encircled them.
The night had been a troubled one, with the spirits of the house restless and causing commotion. Dante had taken it upon himself to spend the night walking the halls, to make sure nothing ill befell any students who may have been sneaking back to their rooms in the small hours.
He saw nothing of course, for all trouble they were causing, a ghost that doesn't want to seen seldom will be. Having then all but slept through History and met all his days appointments as counsellor, he had settled here to relax.
"I'm sorry, good evening Mallory, I hope I'm not intruding." He gave her a smile, genuine but uneasy. There was still a lot needed to be said between them.
He turned and stared a moment, trying to place the tall fellow who sat across the room from him. He’d seen him in history, but didn’t think he had ever spoken to him or learned his name. He gave him a little wave.
“Hiya there, I’m Dante.”
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phyria
Dozing
Leo Stillman - The Elemental
Posts: 63
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Post by phyria on Oct 5, 2011 0:26:48 GMT
Leo looked up sharply when a man spoke and entered the room. He had seen this man around before, the man being pretty hard to miss with his red hair and permanent glasses, and had only said perhaps ten words to him in total. Dante, Leo remembered, his name was Dante. He was also the student counselor.
He himself didn’t often feel the need to speak about his own feelings. They tended to be fairly simple and he had lived a remarkably bland life overall, easily finding friends with the sports he participated in. He was vaguely aware that he gained attention of a different kind too although the thought immediately made him nervous whenever he focused on it. He had received no end of teasing when the others found out about that.
Shaking those thoughts from his head in time to catch his wave and greeting he smiled and gave a nod “Leo. I’ve seen you before in history.”
Speaking of classes…he looked down at his work again and winced. With two people now in the room, both in his class and both individuals who he barely knew despite this, he didn’t particularly feel like he wanted to complete it. He closed the textbook and put it back in his bag, leaning back in his chair.
He could always do it later.
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Post by Minxie on Oct 6, 2011 15:43:11 GMT
Mallory tensed. Just slightly, and in a manner only noticeable to one who knew her - or past forms of herself. The smile she had been wearing faded a little as she regarded the newcomer to the common room, and she sighed inwardly.
It's no use. I can't escape my past. Dammit.
"Evening Dante." She said simply, shifting back in her chair, curling her legs up in an unconsciously defensive gesture. "I think I chose Philosophy for the discussion, and yeah, the fact it looks good on a uni app."
Assuming I can even get to uni now...
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Post by angeloftheodd on Oct 10, 2011 18:56:13 GMT
Dante couldn't help but wince at the reception Mallory gave him. It was definitely too soon, he didn't have to be psychic to know that.
He found it all too easy to forget that although he had known The Seven forever, they were still people, with thoughts and feelings that changed with every rebirth. He had thoughts and feelings too, but try as he may he couldn't change the way the others did.
Seeing Leo close his textbook, Dante turned his attention to the boy, tucking his book of sketches down the side of the chair. With an open smile but no words he stood and extended an open hand.
"A pleasure. Yeah, you've seen me in history. Maybe a few other places too. I get around."
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Post by Minxie on Oct 12, 2011 14:35:46 GMT
Mallory watched the interaction between Dante and Leo, and let her mind slip away slightly. Being so tired, oddly, helped her to move free of the confines of her mind. For a few minutes, Mallory let herself drift, seeing the world around her in slightly fuzzy tones, colours of objects blurring with colours of auras. Her gaze drifted over to Dante, and she mentally shivered. She remembered, as she always did, how much it hurt her psyche to be too close to the Prophet. He had seen too much, more even than the rest of them, and he had no rest.
Backing away from Dante, the Psychic's mental gaze turned to Leo, and even in a non-corporeal form she nearly fell from her chair. His aura blazed with colours; greens, blues, yellows and reds.
Earth...water...air...and fire?
Mallory's mind snapped back into her physical body with such a force that she jerked. The redhead rubbed her arms, glancing quickly at the other two to see if they had noticed, hoping that Leo had not.
And now I have to interact with Dante. Dammit dammit dammit!
She shifted her gaze to the Prophet, hoping he would catch her eye.
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phyria
Dozing
Leo Stillman - The Elemental
Posts: 63
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Post by phyria on Oct 12, 2011 20:55:27 GMT
Leo nodded and smiled at Mallory’s question but his attention was drawn back to Dante when he spoke. He had seen him around, true, although he rarely took too much notice. He didn’t really know him after all.
He stood and took Dante’s hand, shaking it “Yeah. So you have an interest in philosophy? I’ve never really taken more than a passing interest.”
He was turning to sit back in his chair when he heard a noise behind him from Mallory. He glanced at her when she sat down but she wasn’t really doing anything although she looked to be attempting to catch Dante’s eye.
Leo got the impression that she didn’t want him to notice that she was trying to catch his eye though and so he, with more tact than he usually employed, looked away, back at Dante.
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Post by angeloftheodd on Oct 18, 2011 22:27:49 GMT
Though Dante grinned as Leo accepted his hand, inside he sighed with relief.
Some in the school just weren't as tactile as Dante had grown accustomed to over the years and had the boy shrunk away from his hand it would have created an extremely awkward situation.
"Philosophy? Absolutely, it changes the way you look at the world. You should try Plato's Republic sometime..."
Dante's voice trailed off slightly as his partner in conversation turned away from him. Quite subconsciously his gaze followed Leo's over to where Mallory sat.
As he looked into her eyes, he found himself suddenly mesmerized by the depth of their striking blue. Dante tried to look away, but he was trapped, unable to tell if he was falling deeper into the azure pools or whether they had somehow surged forward to envelop him. By the time Leo turned back, he was uncontrollably staring straight past him.
For a moment, in his minds eye, a woman he knew years ago stood before him. He spoke to her in calming words, offering his reassurance and then, when he was close enough to embrace her, he pressed the barrel of a gun into her chest...
Bang!
He blinked, startled and confused. Turning back to Leo, he drew a plain bronze zippo lighter from his pocket.
He could feel he was no longer alone in his own mind.
Ras... Mallory?
Rolling the lighter reel up his leg to make a flame, he held it in front of his face. He began to flip the lighter in his hand, twirling it between his fingers and making the fire dance in intricate circles. An old party trick, put to good use.
"So tell me a bit about yourself Leo..."
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Post by Minxie on Oct 20, 2011 12:12:57 GMT
A small, slightly bitter, smile crossed Mallory's lips.
For now. She quietly spoke into Dante's mind, trying to keep the majority of herself away from his psyche, not wishing to burn herself with his countless, convoluted memories.
Leo is one of us. She continued. The Elemental, I'm sure. I don't know what to do to get him to Wake. That's your thing, isn't it? She added, almost laughing at herself. Something felt slightly wrong, like there was something that Dante wasn't telling - reminding - her, like there was something important about the Elemental. She couldn't pin it down, so she didn't try. It could wait. She had many more lifetimes, didn't she?
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