something to do on Labyrinth Gardens

Mollie Buchanan

July 19, 2009 12:37 PM

something to do by Mollie Buchanan

So far this term had been rather quiet for Mollie. Between reading and classes her third year seemed to be flying by. She really enjoyed both of those things, but now that she finally made it outside into the fresh air, Mol found herself to believe she had neglected some things. Like being social. Then again, she didn't really have any friends, well maybe she did, but she wouldn't blame them for not coming round when her nose was always burried in a book. It wasn't intentional, but she still felt so behind in all areas related to magic, that she felt compelled to try and catch up. Fortunately all of her research had her earning beyond satisfactory marks in all of her classes and an information overload on everything else.

Luckily, the end of term was approaching fast, which meant a break from all of the studying. Not that Mollie was going anywhere, she stayed at school for the midterm, however she wouldn't have to read anything that wasn't for pure enjoyment. She would however, for the third year in a row, miss the snow of Christmas in Boston. Not that it bothered her much, the cold was something she only missed on occassion, but snow would be nice. However, it didn't bother her that she could be outside right now, comfortable in a pair of jeans and an old AC-DC t-shirt she had picked up at a thrift store last summer.

Her hair had grown considerably over the course of the summer and school year. The mousy brown now also sported some blue streaks and a little bit edgier style. Her fringe still slid across her face, but now at more of an angle and the choopy look she'd always had, now had a little more class. Due to something special the new girl at the orphanage had done for her. Annaliese, the new girl who was 17 and waiting for the chance to get the hell out and finally go to beauty school, had asked Mollie to let her practice on her. And never having been one to put too much stock into her appearance, Mollie had said yes. Fortunately Anna would be there again this summer, so Mollie couls stay "fashionable" for one more year, or so Anna had said.

With the midterm rapidly approaching Mollie felt she should be studying, but the overwhelming need for a break had overcome her and she decided to take a walk. The gardens were fairly deserted, probably because everybody was inside studying. It was refreshing to say the least, if a bit lonely.

She kicked along one of the trails in her old, faded Converse sneakers, walking aimlessly. Time had passed, but she hadn't really realized, lost in her own thoughts, until the sound of somebody approaching reached her ears. Looking up, Mollie smiled in a friendly manner, wondering who else would be outside right now.

0 Mollie Buchanan something to do 0 Mollie Buchanan 1 5

Daniel Nash II

July 21, 2009 10:41 AM

out and about by Daniel Nash II

Daniel was on top of things. All of his homework was complete. He had flying as a Quidditch Chaser down to, if not a science, then at least a practiced skill. As a second year, he only had normal tests coming up, and he felt he could ace most of them without much difficulty. He had the tiny hairs on his chin shaved off twice a day (once a week probably would have been often enough and he wouldn't have looked any less clean shaven, but that wasn't the point).

Whether or not he was dating Charlie was a little less cut and dried, which was half the reason he was out her today. He was half hoping to run into her out here, where they'd had their horrific first date, and their subsequent first break-up. And right there was where he'd told her she had hairy legs.

Upon further consideration, perhaps this wasn't really the best place to meet up with her again.

He took a few turns along the Garden Paths, moving away from that site of mutual embarrassment. It was surprisingly quiet out here. That was the other reason he was in the Gardens. He'd go batty if he spent one more hour in Aladren, the Library, or the Pitch. He needed to see something green and peaceful. And as much as he liked being an Aladren, he wasn't so nerdy that he needed - or wanted - to spend his every waking minute in the presence of books.

And Quidditch had no less pressure than his studies. Flying was not a release or an escape. It was an obligation, a responsibility to his House. He was relatively athletic, compared to the other bookworms. As such, it was his duty to play on the House Team.

Only the Gardens were really separate from everything else going on in his life at Sonora. So he came out here.

He turned another corner, scraping his feet along the path and running his fingers along the hedges, being sure to make some noise in his passage. He'd already run into at least one couple making out on a bench during a previous foray along these paths, so he didn't like to move too quietly now.

Today, as he entered the next hedge lined pathway, he spotted another student. A girl. Not Charlie. But he thought he recognized her from one of the classes he'd shared with the year above his, last year. This year, he seemed stuck exclusively with the first years, but he didn't mind that so much. The intermediate classes had Holly in them, and his half-sister was best avoided.

He tried to draw this girl's name to mind, but it wasn't coming. "Hello," he greeted politely, because Sonora was the kind of school where people talked to each other when they randomly ran into each other. Besides, she was pretty with that cute haircut and he wouldn't mind finding out her name. "Nice day for a walk, isn't it? I'm Daniel." Since he didn't know her name, he couldn't be sure she knew his. He still thought that was kind of strange.

Here at Sonora, he was nearly as anonymous as anybody else. Muggleborns who were familiar with Street Beat had been fewer and farther between than he'd feared when he was accepted to a school where he was the only person who'd ever played a major role in a television show. But almost nobody here watched television, and those that did, most either didn't get cable or just didn't watch detective shows like Street Beat.

1 Daniel Nash II out and about 130 Daniel Nash II 0 5

Mollie

July 25, 2009 8:22 PM

sounds like a plan by Mollie

A strange sense of recognition came to mind as Mollie felt the boy's face looked familiar, though she couldn't place a name, year or house to the face. Then again, that wasn't unusual for Mollie. With her nose always burried in a book, she was hardly even looking at the people around her. In class she tried to work by herself as much as possible, unless it was required by the teachers. She didn't really want her peers to see how little she knew. In all reality Mollie wasn't behind her classmates, but even a little ahead. However, since she didn't work with her peers, she couldn't gage the level of her own knowledge. She had a serious habit of underestimating her own abilities, formed from years of bouncing through foster homes.

Fortunately the boy introduced himself, effectively saving Mollie from that awkward pause in which his name would never surface in her brain. Now that she thought about it, and he had said it, he did look familiar, like they had been partners in class at one time. He was a year behind her, it was all coming back, slowly but surely. "Mollie." She retuned the smile easily. "Yeah, it was time for a break from the books." She admitted, which she realized made her sound like a bit of a nerd.

"What brings you out here?" Mol questioned, slowing her pace to make for easier conversation. There couldn't be any harm in a friendly conversation. Mollie couldn't honestly remember the last time she'd just chatted with somebody. That was sad, really sad, she realized. Perhaps that needed to be worked on and why not start now? The craving for acceptance and friends that she had come with in her first year had been eclipsed by the sensation that she was very behind in bing a witch, so the drive to succeed overcame the need to belong. It was hard for her to realize that simply being a witch, being in Teppenpaw and taking her classes made her belong to a culture. Mollie wanted to learn everything she could about her new life and subsequently found herself spending the majority of her time reading instead of balancing learning and socializing like any normal thirteen year old girl.

0 Mollie sounds like a plan 0 Mollie 0 5

Daniel

August 02, 2009 2:10 PM

Not a very detailed one though by Daniel

Mollie. Right. He might have known that. He never would have remembered it without prompting though. He tried to file the name in his memory banks for future use and hoped it would stick this time.

Daniel shrugged as she asked what brought him out here. "Just needed a change of scenery, I guess," he answered. "Aladren and the library have too many books for my sanity in them right now. Figured it was time for a break for me, too."

He smiled at her a little crookedly (according to the girls on his fansites, it was his best look, so he'd taken to using it at most opportunities), "Rumors of Aladrens are greatly exaggerated. We don't all live and breathe homework and extra credit research."

The smile twisted a little into a smirk, "Though, you'd never know it from the conversation at the Quidditch practices. I don't know how they do it, but the other people on the team can make even Quidditch sound nerdy. The Gardens are about the only place left where I don't feel like I need to be a genius all the time. So don't ask me what significant turning point was reached during in the third battle of the Goblin Rebellion, or I may have to scream." Daniel smiled again to show he was joking.

But if she did ask, he wasn't going to be responsible for what came out of his mouth. She'd been warned.

1 Daniel Not a very detailed one though 130 Daniel 0 5

Mollie

August 08, 2009 6:30 PM

details are of no concern by Mollie

"I know what you mean." Mollie agreed as Daniel expressed th need for a chance of scenery. Not that she didn't love her comfy bed in Teppenpaw or the library for that matter, which was like her second home, but the fresh air and lack of books and curious eyes was necessary every now and then.

She smiled as quidditch was brought up. That was something she'd done extensive reading on during her education of the wizarding world outside of her classes. It hardly seemed like something nerdy at all, but she didn't doubt that Aladrens could make it seem that way. "I'm one of few in Teppenpaw, they're a social breed. I've almost always got a book in front of my face. Makes me wonder how I got there sometimes." Well, she knew why she had been sorted there, but sometimes it was hard for her to find similarities between herself and her housemates.

Tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear Mollie laughed outright at his warning about discussing the curriculum at this point in time. "Don't worry, I've already written that essay." She remembered it only for its lack of imagination and her lack of enthusiasm in writing it. The content had been so cut and dry. Write down the causes and effects, no personal reflection, just the facts. It was those kinds of essays that drove Mol nuts. Which was why her enjoyed her potions essays, there was a little more wiggle room and the topics were so much more interesting and up for speculation.

"Not something I particularly enjoy talking about to begin with. Such a dry subject. It takes a lot of willpower to stay awake in that one, that's for sure." Mollie shrugged. She knew it was a faily common feeling throughout the school. She had to feel bad for the teacher, who would honestly want to teach such a disenchating subject? There was no way she'd ever be caught dead teaching that one.

0 Mollie details are of no concern 0 Mollie 0 5

Daniel

August 08, 2009 8:27 PM

My Aladren is showing by Daniel

Daniel laughed when Mollie told him she'd already written her History essay rather than trying her luck at asking him about the subject assigned. A few moments later, however, he opened his mouth then closed it again in a conscious decision not to discuss goblins, wars, military strategy, and the importance of communication. He was taking a break. He was not going to get into an animated conversation about something that happened centuries before, just to prove it could be interesting. He was trying not to be nerdy right now.

"Actually, I find it quite fascinating," he disagreed instead. "The parallels and differences between the Goblin Rebellion and the American Revolution are astounding. Even today's controversy about women playing Quidditch can be traced back to similar prejudices against goblins having rights. If it weren't for the Goblins, we wouldn't even have -"

Daniel stopped talking abruptly, realizing he had done exactly what he had promised himself not to do. He winced apologetically. "Sorry. My Aladren is showing again. I won't discuss history today, I promise. I'm changing the subject now. So," he tried to think of the most random, inconsequential, non-academic subject he could come up with, "do you like apples?"

1 Daniel My Aladren is showing 130 Daniel 0 5