Only in Crotalus. Jenna leaned back against a pillow, her legs stretched out across the couch. A copy of the latest Alchemist's Journal was on her lap, and the new Wizard Wireless she had gotten from her cousin for Christmas blasted loud wizard rock of the Weird Sister variety. In all her memory, Crotalus had never won a Quidditch game, and now that it finally did, nothing happened. No party, no celebration- business as usual. Yes, this was the kind of thing that could only happen in the ever so respectable (note the sarcasm) house of Crotalus.
It wasn't as if she was a particularly social person, or a huge fan of Quidditch. But really she wouldn't have minded for an excuse not to think about things and have bit of fun. So many weird things had been going on- her parents hadn't dragged her home for the holidays to tell her how horrible she was, in fact, they had barely written at all. Jordanna wasn't as close with her clique as usual, in fact, she'd heard very little from her family, aside from Isaiah. Not that Jenna minded really, she didn't really get along with the majority of her family. However, the quiet was disconcerting, and it really was strange not to hear something.
The brunette girl still hadn't thrown away that WAIL badge from the Quidditch game. No, it was still there, hiding under her mattress as she considered what there was to lose (and, more importantly, what she could possible gain) from wearing the thing. She didn't really have feelings either way. She didn't mind that all of her roomies played the game, and she supported them. And if they weren't she woudln't have really cared either. Howards cared, though, and Howards were against girls playing Quidditch. At least they were supposed to be. If she could fake it, maybe her parents wouldn't mind sending her half way around the world to study alchemy before getting married. Maybe they wouldn't mind as much that she wanted to get a job and continue her studies, if she agreed to compromise about some things. It was probably an idealistic thought, but it was what this fifth year liked to believe.
Noting a shadow in her reading light, she knew for sure that she was not alone in the common room. Whoever it was, they were probably here to complain about the loud music. But that didn't mean that Jenna was going to make it easy for them.
"Can I help you?" she asked dully, not bothering to look up from the journal. Yes she was usually a very respectable, rule-abiding person- that's why she was in Crotalus, after all. But that didn't mean she had to be down-to-earth and sensible all of the time.
0Jenna HowardContemplating in the Common Room46Jenna Howard15
Geoffrey glanced into the room from the portrait. The music playing was hard to miss, and also not really the kind he usually heard. Here or... he almost thought 'at home' but then he remembered that it wasn't home any more. Or... it was, but it wasn't. It would be his home again, probably, but not for a long time. And he wasn't sure that he wanted it to be, when he thought about it. Home was a difficult word at the moment.
But the point, his thoughts insisted, was that it wasn't the kind of music his mother allowed. And it wasn't type of music that usually seemed to get played here. Or maybe it just wasn't played at this volume usually. He knew his thoughts were running around in circles and he made a clear effort to make them stop - it worked in a pleasingly quick fashion.
Geoffrey's Christmas had been... different. He had been confirmed as the official heir of his father and grandfather. He had forged a connection with three of his Spinder cousins. He had stumbled upon Stephen, held captive under his Uncle Robert's house, and he had rescued him, daringly flying across three states to get him to safety. He had found his mother's sister, who he had never known existed. He had betrayed his family secret because it was the right thing to do.
He had lost everything.
Or so he had thought.
On the night before school came back, when he had worried himself into a terrible state because he wasn't sure if he could go back, a package arrived. It had taken several owls, and what were clearly a feather-light charm and reducio to get the package delivered but deliver it they had - and one bad-tempered bird had included a peck at no extra cost - and in it was his trunk and a letter. It wasn't signed, but he recognised the handwriting nonetheless.
His things were sent - including his homework, which was a relief, except when he remembered the one essay he hadn't got to writing yet. He wasn't to worry about school, it was paid for. He wasn't to worry about his family, they would leave him alone.
He had worried a little bit, but mostly he had been relieved. Relieved and oddly enough, a little bit hurt.
But that was neither here nor now. He recognised the person who seemed to have the music under her control and he walked over.
"Can I help you?"
"Ah, yeah, actually. I'm looking for Jennifer. Any idea on where she might be?"
He tried to project his voice to make it understandable over the music, but wasn't sure how well he succeeded. He didn't have a whole lot of practice with wanting to be heard.
OOC: Sorry about the long-winded backstory in this... just wanted to get some stuff out without the whole rigmorale of WTS.
39Geoffrey SpindlerI've had enough of contemplation, myself79Geoffrey Spindler05
It's never a good thing to think too much
by Jenna Howard
OOC: No problem
BIC: Barely hearing the younger boy over the music, she took her wand out. She might be barely competent with her wandwork, but anyone could work a Wizarding Wireless. Thank Merlin she could do at least that. The girl would call herself a Squib and get up and leave the school if she couldn't.
"In this crazy world you are the lone Lumos in the dark. You're the Wolfsbane to my wild heart.
Ignoring the singer's failed ability to rhyme, or come up with original lyrics she made a jabbing motion at the W.W. causing the volume to decrease enough to have an understandable conversation.
Jenna pushed back lanky brown hair from her face as she looked up at the speaker. It was the Geoffrey kid, Jenna recognized him from the Quidditch team. She also had found the name connected with Stephen's in the newspaper recently. It was so awkward to see familiar names making the news. Thing was, she didn't exactly know why the two of them were in the paper, as she had only briefly glanced at the article while flipping to the astronomy section. Hey, if she wanted to do a decent job in potions, she had to be aware of the astronomical conditions, right?
She glanced for a moment at the page opened in front of her. There was a very unpleasant and very large graphic of the affects of a new skele-gro potion in development. Apparently, the potion was more than a tad too potent, and caused one patient in an experimental group to grow extra and disproportionate bones. Not exactly a conversation starter, she turned the page to something with more text.
"Jennifer?" she repeated, unsure if she had heard correctly. Well, if the kid was looking for her room mate it was probably something to do with Quidditch. Where had her room mate gone off to? They had so much work to do this year, she had barely had time to socialize. Not that she had been much of a social butterfly to begin with, but with all this work, a girl could get a little lonely.
"Er, I didn't see her when I was in the dorm," Jenna looked up at the other boy, "The Pitch, maybe? I don't know, but I'll let her know you're looking for her if I see her."
0Jenna HowardIt's never a good thing to think too much46Jenna Howard05
Re: It's never a good thing to think too much
by Geoffrey S.
Geoffrey sighed in relief when the music was turned down. It was a little easier to think without the sound crashing into his ears. It also made it a little more obvious that the older girl was looking a little uncomfortable at talking to him. The slightest of frowns creased Geoffrey's forehead as he considered the most likely reason for that response, and then decided to forget about.
"The Pitch?" he repeated. "Yeah, I suppose she might be there. I might go check. Thanks for the tip. And yes, if you see her, letting her know that I'm looking for her would be very nice of you. I think it's important. Sorry for interrupting your music."
He didn't really see much point in hanging around any longer, so he turned and headed for the Quidditch Pitch to see if Jenna's tip was any good.
OOC: Sorry... I guess this thread got nowhere fast from me... ah well, I guess someone else might happen upon you too. The music is kind of hard to miss ;)\r\n\r\n
39Geoffrey S.Re: It's never a good thing to think too much0Geoffrey S.05