Stephen Baxter
August 14, 2006 10:53 PM
Oh Princess (and, you know, every other girl in Pecari) by Stephen Baxter
Knowing that Mia was headed home for the holidays, Stephen made sure that he was up and about early on the day that the holidays began to be sure to catch her before she left for midterm. He had been up late the night before making certain the the poem he had finally settled on was written as neatly as he could manage, and putting it into the box he had made for Transfiguration. He'd considered wrapping it, but paper would have just taken from the effect of its shiny green gorgeousness, and he didn't have any ribbon, or know where he could get some, or feel like asking Sorrel and getting his nose broken in response.He settled into a chair, with a theatrically huge yawn and the box on his lap. After a bit he jumped up and wandered over to look at the noticeboard. Then he wandered up the stairs and glanced down the girls corridor before heading back down the stairs and over to a window to look out over the grounds. They'd been sort of autumnal yesterday, and today they'd gone entirely white. Awesome. He considered going out to check out what was going on but then remembered Princess. Getting bored of waiting already he glanced at his watch. Seven-thirty, which meant that breakfast was probably just starting in the hall. He wandered back up the stairs and then grinned.
If the Girl wouldn't come to him, and he couldn't go to the girl.... well, there was only one other option, wasn't there?
"WAKE UP, GIRLS!" he called down the corridor. "Snow's out, its a beautiful morning, breakfast is served and PRINCESS, YOU STILL ASLEEP?"
As an afterthought, he pulled out his wand and quickly charmed the box to be impervious in case things got a little out of hand.\n\n
39
Stephen Baxter
Oh Princess (and, you know, every other girl in Pecari)
49
Stephen Baxter
1
5
Caedence Redoak
August 14, 2006 11:44 PM
and now, my friend, stephen meets caedence by Caedence Redoak
Caedence woke up a bit earlier than she expected. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and checked her bedside clock. 7:30. What in the world was she doing up now? And..was her hair DOWN?!?! In a fury, agered at letting her braid fall out in her sleep, she swiftly re-bound it. then, she snuggled back under her covers. Then came a yell. By the words, which she couldn't make out very many of, it was a second yell. So this person was the thing that jarred her awake.Doing her braid up again, more tight this time, she got up. She pulled her nightgown off. It was as close to frilly as she'd get. It was a purple color with lace. Under it was her day clothes. Today she wore jeans and a green shirt with one diagonal red stripe. This was as close to festive as she'd get. She pulled her robes over her clothing.
Marching down the stairs, she looked at the disrupter coldly. "And who are you? yelling at the crack of dawn? Disturbing ME?!?" she said this evenly, but the shout was implied.\n\n
0
Caedence Redoak
and now, my friend, stephen meets caedence
94
Caedence Redoak
0
5
Meredith Lail
August 15, 2006 1:44 PM
but now I can finally meet Stephen by Meredith Lail
OOC: I’m going on the assumption that Caedence just missed where it said Stephen came back up the stairs so all of this is taking place upstairs still I guess.BIC: When she heard the yelling, Meredith’s blue eyes opened and swayed around the room. She was half expecting an explosion from somewhere, but remembered her brothers weren’t around. Her eyes wandered to the clock and she raised an eyebrow. Seven thirty was pretty early for waking up on the first day of the holidays. Just the fact that the yell woke her up was something of a mystery. Meredith always found herself as a pretty heavy sleeper. Maybe she had gotten too used to not hearing the twins’ noise that this one came as a surprise.
Meredith saw Caedence get out of bed, all dressed, and head for the door. Now how did she manage that? Meredith turned sideways on the bed and did a clean back roll off of it landing on her feet and rising with her arms up. That’s what she got for being a gymnast. Her mother demanded that she do something graceful and flowy dance skirts and tutus were not her thing. Meredith dropped her arms quickly and followed Caedence out the door though she was still in her pajamas. Just a sky blue tank top and long white pants. All she did about her bed head blonde hair was give it a quick smooth over with her hand.
Meredith walked out and stood next to Caedence as she told off the boy who probably did the shouting, but then Meredith realized it wasn’t just any boy. A huge grin covered her face when she saw who it was.
“It’s you!” she exclaimed in her southern drawl with more enthusiasm than was normal for a child in the morning, though obviously he didn’t have any trouble with it either. She ignored the fact that he may not, or probably didn’t, remember her. “The yelling boy from the opening feast.” Meredith turned to Caedence for a moment. “Don’t worry about him. He’s just a loud, funny kid, like Elly.” She laughed and looked back at the older boy.
“So what are you yelling about now?” she asked with not a single hint of annoyance, just conversationally.\n\n
0
Meredith Lail
but now I can finally meet Stephen
0
Meredith Lail
0
5
Caedence
August 15, 2006 4:00 PM
now we're all aquainted! by Caedence
Caedence jumped about a foot high hearing a familiar voice behind her. What was the name again? Mary? Mary-Beth? Ah, yes, Meredith. She spun around quickly to face her. HEr braid, by force of gravity, spun around a bit too late wacking her in the face."Meredith! So, you know this kid?" She nodded toward the boy. "You know I dont take much to anyone too giggly if that is what you imply. After all, Elly was about my limit. Speaking of whom, did you guys go explore? Did O'Leary catch you?"
After a bit, she realized that the boy was still behind her. "And what might your name be? And am I supposed to know you? And why everdid you have to shout at the break of day!?" she was getting a bit hysterical, Caedence thought, but he did wake her up. And she hated being woke up.\n\n
0
Caedence
now we're all aquainted!
94
Caedence
0
5
Elly Eriksson
August 16, 2006 2:52 AM
Sorry about my friends, they're a bit mad. by Elly Eriksson
Although she hadn’t planned on it, Elly found herself awake nice and early on the first day of the holiday. She was just going to doze a while, and was rolling back over when Caedence strutted past her bed and out of the dormitory. Elly frowned, assuming Caedence was overly eager to get home. She pulled the covers back up to her chin as another girl ran past her. “Meredith!” Elly hissed, recognising her friend’s blonde hair. Meredith apparently didn’t hear her, though.Elly bit her lip and stared at the ceiling for a short while until curiosity got the better of her. She threw back her blankets and folded herself out of bed. Without a single thought to her appearance, Elly followed the others out of the dorm, dressed in her favourite yellow duck patterned pyjamas with her untamed hair closely resembling a large, wild, bright orange bush stuck to her head.
The sight that greeted Elly made her stop short and raise an eyebrow in amusement. That fourth year Pecari boy that had yelled back to Elly at the feast (which seemed like forever ago) was standing there, looking, in Elly’s opinion, a little bewildered, with Meredith and Caedence. The latter of the two girls didn’t seem to be too happy, as she was nearly shouting at the boy.
"And what might your name be? And am I supposed to know you? And why ever did you have to shout at the break of day!?"
Elly sighed. She’d been on the end of Caedence’s strops before, and knew they could be a bit intimidating if you weren’t used to them. Elly took a couple of steps forward to stand behind her classmates, being a head taller than each of them. Interrupting and interfering were both bad habits that Elly was trying to overcome, so she waited until Cadence had finished before speaking. “Good morning!” she greeted them all cheerfully, grinning like a bit of a maniac, but not quite as manically as usual – she had just rolled out of bed, after all.
\n\n
0
Elly Eriksson
Sorry about my friends, they're a bit mad.
92
Elly Eriksson
0
5
Stephen
August 17, 2006 12:15 PM
Oh, that's ok. We're all mad here ;) by Stephen
"Hello," Stephen said with a grin to the one, then two and then three first years who trotted out from the girls corridor, entirely unperturbed. He smiled down at the angry girl and patted her on the head absently, leaning forward to look down the corridor to see if anyone else was coming. The result were debatable."I was trying to - hey. You're girls. You can help me. I'm trying - oh, I'm Stephen," he interrupted himself for the benefit of angry girl, "- to get Princess - er, you might know her as Mia? Anyhow, I'm trying to talk to her before she heads home for the holidays, and I got bored."
He paused for a moment, and then leaned over to the entry again. "PRINCESS, TIME TO GET UP!" he called loudly and hopefully down the corridor before turning back to the firsties. "If she doesn't show up this time, do you reckon you lot can go looking for her for me? She'd be in the fourth years room. With Sorrel. You'll know Sorrel by now," he added, confidently. It was a bit of a surprise that one of them hadn't known who he was, but then it was early, and she'd probably just worken up. Poor girl obviously needed more sleep to get her brain in working order.\n\n
39
Stephen
Oh, that's ok. We're all mad here ;)
0
Stephen
0
5
Mia
August 17, 2006 2:11 PM
Some especially so. by Mia
Mia, occasionally letting laziness and holiday spirit get the best of her, decided not to pack her suitcase ahead of time. This meant she was up early on the first day of break to pack up her things. She squinted at the clock before grabbing her glasses from the nightstand. Seven-ten wasn’t bad. Silk woke her before going straight back to sleep, curling in a ball by her pillow. Mia went to get dressed in a simple pair of jeans, a fitted red shirt and her light jacket tied around her waist. She put her contact lenses in and put her glasses in a pocket of her suitcase. Mia paid no mind to her roommates, sleeping or not, and quietly packed up some clothing into her suitcase.When she was done she looked it over seeing if she missed anything she wanted to take. Everything seemed to be there. Mia figured she’d go to the wagon after eating breakfast. Just then she heard a shout from downstairs she would guess. She looked at the door for a moment shaking her head slightly and grinning.
‘I guess he got an early start too.’ She thought to herself.
Mia grabbed her boots and laced them up on her feet. The string had come out of most of the holes somehow and it took another minute to fully tie them again. As she finished, Stephen called again. She thought she heard another Pecari’s voice, but couldn’t be sure. If it was and she could hear it from her room, someone was probably a bit upset at being woken up at, Mia glanced at the clock again, about seven-thirty. She snatched a ponytail holder from her nightstand and walked out the door.
“I’m awake, Stephen.” She answered, still smiling, as she came down the hall towards Stephen and a group of girls she didn’t know. First years probably since she did vaguely recognize them. Mia tied her hair back in a pony tail as she spoke. “And I doubt many people are still sleeping. So what’s with the early morning wake up call?”\n\n
0
Mia
Some especially so.
0
Mia
0
5
Stephen
August 17, 2006 9:33 PM
Not you, Princess... Can't call anyone who likes me mad ;) by Stephen
Stephen's attention was drawn right away when Mia's voice came through the entry to the girls corridor with her close behind. joined him - and the firsties - on landing above the stairs. His grin from before faded, then was replaced by something similar, if not the same, as his eyes drifted from one end to the other of her. He gave a low whistle of appreciation.“And I doubt many people are still sleeping. So what’s with the early morning wake up call?”
"This, firsties, is Mia," Stephen instructed the first-arrivers with a grin and a nod to Mia. "And that," he jerked his head towards the nearest window, "is snow. Lots of it. Hot breakfast in the Hall and the a day of snow. Nice meeting you all. And if you're here for the holidays, remind me to show you the corridor ride sometime." He gave them a last fleeting grin before letting his focus go almost entirely to Mia from that point.
"You," he grinned at her, "are going to catch another cold if you get about in clothes like that in this weather. Not that I'm complaining, because Princess, you look hot, I'm just saying. Funny that, how you can look hot and get cold." He absently checked his hair to make sure that it was ruffled, and with only a fraction's hesitation pushed the box out towards her.
This was stupid. She was a girl. A hot girl. And he'd never really felt worried about girls before. Not that he was worried now. Just a little concerned. But then, Mia was the first person to ever read his efforts at poetry. Stephen had briefly considered asking Sorrel's opinion, but something about the panda eyes - he wasn't going to tease her about them, because he'd made that agreement with Ash, but that didn't mean he couldn't think what he thought - had made him hold back. That and the idea that Sorrel might not understand and would just think that he was going soft, when really he wasn't.
"I know you said you didn't like green, but I think it'll grow on you. Green is the most awesome of colours, after all," his usual confidence came flooding back. How could she not like it? "Anyhow," he wasn't sure he wanted her opening it with an audience around. For that matter, he wasn't sure that he wanted her opening it while he was around. Wait, he did want to be around. Only he didn't. Gah, girls.
He thought about the final poem he'd decided on
And this year, I just couldn't believe my sight,
It was like you just changed overnight.
But you're still the same girl Sorrel likes to fight,
And if you're taller you're just about the right height,
And I'm hoping that you'll take pity on my plight,
Cos you see, I like you Princess.
Do you like me too?
He was confident that she liked him, mostly. What girl wouldn't? He was Stephen, after all. But girls liked to be asked. And... well, there was nothing wrong with being sure.
He shuffled his feet a little awkwardly and hoped that he the heat he was feeling wasn't an indication that he was going red. Blushing wasn't really his thing.\n\n
39
Stephen
Not you, Princess... Can't call anyone who likes me mad ;)
0
Stephen
0
5
Meredith
August 17, 2006 10:58 PM
Then again...*grins* We'll just take our leave now. by Meredith
Meredith listened as the older boy, Stephen, told them what he was doing. She covered her ears and grinned as he yelled again. She nodded when he asked if she and the others would go look for this girl he wanted to talk to so badly. He must have had some kind of thing for her if he just couldn’t wait for her to wake up. But then she came down the hall awake and fully dressed too. Maybe both she and Caedence knew a quick changing secret that she and Elly didn’t. Unless she was already up, but that seemed unlikely to her. Who would want to get up early if you didn’t have to? Oh, Stephen did mention she was leaving for the holidays. Stephen introduced her to them and Meredith grinned at the newcomer. He spoke to them and she got the feeling he wanted them to leave. Her grin became wider, but she decided to be nice. He was lucky he wasn’t her brother or she would’ve made sure to stay.“Well, I’m hungry.” She announced to her friends. “Elly, let’s get dressed and head over to Cascade Hall. Caedence, will you wait for us in the dormitory?”
She didn’t give Elly a chance to refuse. She took Elly’s arm and pulled her back to their dorm room. She only hoped Caedence got the hint and would follow them back to the room. She wasn’t risking her arm to pull her back. Caedence still seemed mad about being woken up and patting her head probably didn’t help. When they were back, she took a little longer than necessary to close the door to hear a little of what Stephen was saying to the older girl, Mia. She covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing at his corny joke and compliment. When she was older, was she supposed to like boys who talked to her like that? She closed the door and started laughing.
“Is that how all boys are gonna be when they get older?” She asked generally, as she went to find clothes to change into.\n\n
0
Meredith
Then again...*grins* We'll just take our leave now.
0
Meredith
0
5
Elly
August 18, 2006 4:58 AM
*strongly agrees* by Elly
Elly yawned widely, still not entirely sure what she was doing standing in the corridor in her pyjamas. The fourth year student - Stephen – was just as mouthy as Elly herself. It became apparent that he was yelling for his friend – Mia – and that’s what had woken Caedence. Hence her bad mood. It was a lot to take in at 7.30 on the first day of the holidays.Elly cringed as Stephen began openly flirting with Mia, even with the ‘firsties’ still hanging around. She was just deciding to leave, when she felt Meredith’s hand close around her arm. “Elly, let’s get dressed and head over to Cascade Hall” Elly grinned. “See ya!” she called to the fourth years, and allowed herself to be dragged back to the dormitory by Meredith, still grinning like a maniac.
“Is that how all boys are gonna be when they get older?” Meredith asked, starting to sort through her clothes. Elly blinked. “Er…” she said uncertainly. “Well, I can’t imagine Echo being like that,” she replied, smiling. She turned to the small pile of clothes she’d left out to wear that morning – everything else was packed for her to take home for the holiday. “I hope not all boys turn out like that, ’coz I’m not sure I’d find that very attractive,” she said, laughing.
Elly quickly got changed into a pair of faded black jeans and a thick green jumper that her grandmother had knitted for her. “I’m looking forward to going home,” Elly said. “But I’m also looking forward to coming back again.” She grinned. “I miss my Dad and my Grandma.” She hauled her packed trunk out from under her bed and threw it on top of the covers. “So, breakfast?”
\n\n
0
Elly
*strongly agrees*
0
Elly
0
5
Caedence
August 20, 2006 7:53 PM
I may be quite nosy, but I'll get Caedence out of here also by Caedence
This boy was so annoying! Caedence felt that he might be all right if she would hang around him a bit. "I know of you..."she said slowly. The boy didn't listen, obviously, since he started to shamelessly flirt. Bad enough that he patted her head, but now there were the corny jokes. This boy was obviously in love. How pathetic.She needed no prompting to turn tail and go to the dorm. When there, she ignored the chit-chat. Instead she grabbed her quidditch book, and went towards the door. "Meet me in the hall if you wish. I'll hang out for a bit, I guess. If you'd like." she said without turning around. She was turned enough, however, to let them see her small smile. It would seem that she enjoyed a few friends. In Caedence's mind, however, she meerely saw them as tag-alongers. She refused to believe that she actually could have friends.
OOC: I'll post up in the Cascade Hall, also, I made a background for Caedence in OOC if you wanna read it! ^_^ \n\n
0
Caedence
I may be quite nosy, but I'll get Caedence out of here also
94
Caedence
0
5
Mia
August 21, 2006 1:55 PM
And yet the firstie might have a point by Mia
As Mia stood there waiting to hear what this was all about, she got a strong feeling that something big was going to happen. Her mother had told her about women’s intuition on more than one occasion. Stephen told the first years who she was, though she didn’t have a clue who they were. She gave a small wave to the younger students and then Stephen plowed forward. Apparently knowing the first years’ names didn’t matter as long as they were gone for the time being, but he did offer to show them the corridor ride another time. That was all they needed. More students randomly falling from nowhere. One of the first years led her friends away and back to their room. Mia’s eyes followed them until Stephen took her attention again.First she thought he was just being Stephen. In a joking way, he was worried about her getting sick. She put her hands on her hips throwing him a sarcastic ‘yes, dad’ look, but then she was taken aback and she dropped her arms. In his words, he thought she looked hot? Was he serious? She broke his glance, thankful for the box he held out to her. It gave her something else to look at. It was the box he made in transfiguration. It seemed to be the most abstract thought that someone, a boy no less, would compliment her and give her a present, unless it was Jon or Adam. They had been two of her best friends for as long as she could remember. She kept her bewilderment off her face as best she could. She just wasn’t used to attention like she was getting. She lightly bit her bottom lip, but smiled through it as she took the box from him when he finished his speech. It was a Christmas present, but then why did it feel like more than that? Either way she was flattered.
“Thanks. I’m sure it will grow on me.” She smiled, turning the box in her hands. “I honestly wasn’t expecting anything so I don’t have anything to give you now, but I’ll definitely bring you something when I get back.” She doubted he’d want her box. It was far too simple and not a touch of green on it at all. No, she’d get him something when she went Christmas shopping. She finally caught his gaze again, trying to keep a casual smile despite the glow she could feel on her own face. She fingered a piece of barely loose hair behind her ears, her telltale nervous habit. “Let me put this in my suitcase before I put it down somewhere and forget it.”
Mia went back to the fourth year girls’ room. She quickly crossed the room to her bed and flipped open the top of her suitcase. She looked at the box for another moment, knowing that earlier she felt something knocking around in there. She opened the lid and saw a piece of paper inside. She pulled it out and read what was written on it. A smile slowly grew on her face as she read. It wasn’t a masterpiece of literature, but it got its point across. At the last two lines Mia covered her mouth in awe. She slowly put the paper back in the box and tucked it in her suitcase. She had to tell her mother that women’s intuition was a powerful thing.
Now she had to answer his question. Did she like him? Of course she did as a friend. Stephen was always the nice, funny guy that spoke to her from time to time. He even sort of defended her from Sorrel at the opening feast. It just never crossed her mind to think of him as more than just a good friend of hers. She looked at the box in her suitcase. Well, it never crossed her mind before then. She didn’t think she could give him an answer right then and there though. She zipped up her suitcase and propped it next to her bed. She decided to think about it at home with some serious help from Megan. She would know what to do. There were things Mia had to hide from her best friend about school, but this wasn’t one of them.\n\n
0
Mia
And yet the firstie might have a point
0
Mia
0
5
Stephen
August 22, 2006 8:13 AM
Riiiiight.... by Stephen
Well, she'd taken it. Point one to Stephen. She thought it was just a christmas present. Er... another point for being thoughful? She hadn't thought to get him anything though. Maybe call it even on that bit. And she considered the present important enough to go make sure it wasn't forgotten. Which was good. If Sorrel heard he'd been writing poetry..."Yeah, yeah, right. I'll just, er..."
And she was gone. Stephen stood there for a moment, looking around and wondering what now. He glanced down the girls corridor, but she was out of sight. Was she coming back? He peered down again and considered calling out for her again, but a sneaking suspicion that something might not have come to plan had already edged its way into his mind.
He peered down the corridor again, frowning. She couldn't... could she? She still hadn't come back into sight. She had to be back out sometime though, surely. There was a wagon to catch. But. If she had taken this long... then maybe...
Stephen shoved the idea from his mind. She thought it was a Christmas present. She probably was planning on waiting until Christmas to open it. And she hadn't come back because she was getting ready to leave. And, and, really, there was snow outside, and there was food waiting in the Hall. No point in hanging around. Nope, none at all.
He glanced down the girls corrider and then affected a shrug before turning and ambling back down into the commons proper. Without looking back, he headed for the passage outside, and followed his nose towards some food.
No point in thinking about it. Nothing really to do but wait until midterm was over.\n\n
39
Stephen
Riiiiight....
0
Stephen
0
5
Sorrel
August 22, 2006 9:25 PM
Leeeeeft by Sorrel
Sorrel was, in terms of noise, a pretty heavy sleeper. It was movement that got through. Sharing a room with a twin prone to ambushing you tended to make you the sort of person who got woken up when someone was fumbling around your room. She was also a naturally early riser, so it was no surprise that Princess's (frankly selfish) attempts to pack early in the morning disturbed her. Not really wishing to converse with her, Sorrel pretended she was still asleep. A few minutes later, she heard shouting from downstairs. She recognised Stephen's voice, although the words were a bit muffled. She thought she heard 'Princess' though. She waited until Mia's footsteps padded out of the dorm, before sneaking out after her. She wasn't sure she wanted to join the forray without the protection of her eyeliner, and for any conversation Stephen wanted to hold with Mia. She wanted to know what was said though. As she crept along the corridor, Stephen's address to Princess drifted back up to her. She stopped at the top of the stairs, utterly confused. She knew she couldn't be mistaken that it was Stephen's voice, and several people had addressed him whilst she'd had her ears open, but she couldn't quite believe that her best friend was making a pass at... Princess didn't qualify as her 'mortal enemy', and there were probably more annoying people - more vapid, Pureblooded, young and squeaky people - but... it was Princess.Hearing footsteps, Sorrel backed up to her own room, getting inside as the first years closed their door. She was irritated by the burst of laughter she heard from behind it. She edged the door back open, but hearing Mia's footsteps, pushed it to and backed quickly into their room, settling back in bed just as the door opened.
She squinted through half open eyes to try and see what Mia had. All she knew was it was green, which Mia didn't even like (so why waste whatever it was on her?). She saw a slip of paper drawn from the box and studied carefully before the whole thing was put away. She struggled for a moment with how to ask what it was, rather than just blurting out the first insult that came to her mind, because she genuinely wanted to know rather than just wind Princess up.
"Interesting reading material?" she asked, propping herself up on her elbow. \n\n
0
Sorrel
Leeeeeft
0
Sorrel
0
5
Mia
August 23, 2006 7:12 PM
Um...oh! Dooooown by Mia
"Interesting reading material?"Mia’s eyes left her suitcase and jumped over to where Sorrel was now awake and looking at her. She looked much closer to normal without the heavy eyeliner. It was almost surprising that there wasn’t a single insult in the girl’s statement. She hadn’t even finished it with ‘Princess.’ Mia wasn’t sure how to explain that. As far as she knew, Sorrel hated her. Mia brought her eyes back to her suitcase beside her bed. She wasn’t about to tell Sorrel what she read. For one reason, it was none of her business. When did she tell her anything? Secondly, if she knew Sorrel at all, she’d probably never hear the end of it. She had enough to think about without adding what her roommate would say or the disgusted looks she’d give.
“Well, interesting is one way to put it.” Mia answered simply and honestly.
There wasn’t only one word to describe the poem and interesting was definitely on the list. She casually turned towards her sleeping pet, using it as an excuse to get her face away from Sorrel’s direction in case she started blushing or smiling again. She wasn’t going to give her any hints to what she read either. Staying faced away from her, Mia woke her cat so they could leave. She hadn’t forgotten that Stephen was still by the stairs and she didn’t know how long she had been looking at his poem. She also wanted to get on the wagon home as soon as she could.\n\n
0
Mia
Um...oh! Dooooown
0
Mia
0
5