Enjoying the feeling of accomplishment on Cascade Hall

Alexis Ashwood

February 26, 2009 9:40 PM

Enjoying the feeling of accomplishment by Alexis Ashwood

It was a couple of days after the amazing Quidditch match, and Alexis still felt like she was flying on her broom. Quidditch shouldn’t have this kind of effect on her. She tried to convince herself of that. It was definitely improper. Plus, ever since the game, the tension in her room had been even more tense than ever. She knew that most of the girls she lived with were the cause of her mother and father finding out about her playing. If they had just, like, asked her, like any civilized group of girls should, she probably would’ve stopped. She had high appreciation for those girls and their pureblood background. But they went behind her back and betrayed her.

Admirable. But that was totally Alexis’ thing. Which was why she continued to play. To spite them.

She may have been a pureblood, she may have been a girl, and she may be trying to prove that she was better than Josiah in every way, shape, and form, but there was no way she was letting a bunch of pureblood girls try and control her, especially since they were insecure enough to try to manipulate her own parents to hurt her. Really, how immature could someone be? Was it that hard to say something to her face?

Either way, she was enjoying her time in the Cascade Hall. She doubted that the ‘Ladies’ would try anything in the Hall. It was better than the commons, anyway. There were more people to talk to. She wouldn’t have minded hanging with Holly, though. She didn’t belong with the so-called ‘Ladies’, in Alexis’ opinion. She was pretty cool.

Notable Magical Names of Our Time was on the table in front of her. The red head pushed her reading glasses up the bridge of her nose, reading the rather dry book. She knew most of this stuff, but she was researching something. She had to find something to blackmail any of the ‘Ladies’ with. If they wanted a war, they certainly got one. Someone sat down and Alexis looked up.

“Hello.” she said, taking off her glasses. “Did you want something?”

0 Alexis Ashwood Enjoying the feeling of accomplishment 117 Alexis Ashwood 1 5

Holly Greer

February 27, 2009 12:27 AM

Enjoying a nice break by Holly Greer

As Holly entered the Cascade Hall, she glanced around to see who was already there. She only sat at the traditionally Pecari table when Raoul was there. She didn't see him today, but Alexis was over there. Smiling, Holly made her way over to the Crotalus girl.

"Hey," she greeted, sitting down. "Just wanted to say congratulations. I watched your game the other day. I doubt you heard me, but I was cheering for you from Pecari. I would have said something after the game but you looked pretty busy." That, and she imagined Quidditch players were all rather smelly after playing a match, and Holly would rather keep her distance until they had a chance to shower.

But it would be impolite to imply Alexis might have perspired enough to cause an odor, so Holly kept that thought to herself.

"You looked like you really liked flying," Holly commented, neither approving nor censuring. She was just making a neutral observation. She knew some of the other girls were upset about Alexis playing Quidditch, but Holly didn't really understand why. Not anymore than she understood why Alexis would want to risk getting nearly killed by evil metal balls of doom. But the flying part she got. Kind of. "I was wondering if maybe you wanted to join me in my broom rides around the gardens sometime? If you want to. I find it relaxing. At home, I have a horse, but here, a broom is as close as I can find. I go riding a couple times a week."\r\n\r\n

1 Holly Greer Enjoying a nice break 123 Holly Greer 0 5

Alexis Ashwood

March 01, 2009 10:23 AM

Breaks are nice by Alexis Ashwood

It turned out that it was Holly who had chosen to sit next to Alexis. She wouldn’t admit it, but she was kind of relieved. The red head wasn’t in any kind of mood to deal with someone like Cecily or Chelsea. Still, the fact that Holly was one of the ‘Ladies’ put Alexis on the defense just a little.

“Oh, thanks!” You were cheering for me? “Yeah, I didn’t hear you. Sorry.” The fact that Holly was (supposedly) cheering her on continued to make her suspicious. For the short amount of time that Alexis was a part of the ‘Ladies’, though, she had determined that Holly didn’t seem to fit in as much as some of the others did. Alexis really didn’t know what to think of this.

“Flying is great.” she smiled, noting that Holly was being pretty neutral about her statement. The next thing Holly said forced Alexis to keep her own expression pretty neutral and not totally shocked.

"I was wondering if maybe you wanted to join me in my broom rides around the gardens sometime? If you want to. I find it relaxing. At home, I have a horse, but here, a broom is as close as I can find. I go riding a couple times a week.”

“That’d be great.” Alexis agreed. But had the ‘Ladies’ put Holly up to this? Alexis wouldn’t put it past them at all. “But are you really willing to commit social suicide with the ‘Ladies’ by hanging with me?” That worried her just a little. Why would Holly risk her status with the ‘Ladies’ by flying with her unless they put her up to this, and Holly wouldn’t lose anything? It was just a bit suspicious.

0 Alexis Ashwood Breaks are nice 117 Alexis Ashwood 0 5

Holly Greer

March 01, 2009 9:10 PM

Very much so by Holly Greer

That Alexis hadn't heard her came as very little surprise to Holly. There had been a lot of people shouting and Holly voice was hardly what one would call loud even when she was shouting enough to make herself hoarse. She shrugged off the apology, not blaming Alexis in the least for not noticing Holly in the stands. Holly had never been able to make out her family in the audience of school concerts either.

Holly began to smile as Alexis agreed that she would like to join in Holly's rides. As relaxing as the rides were, a broom was not Wendy and it got a little lonely sometimes riding the Garden paths by herself. It would be good to have company and Holly had gotten the distinct impression most of the other Ladies painted brooms with the same brush as they did Quidditch.

The smile froze stillborn and then turned into a confused frown, however, as Alexis continued by asking if Holly was willing to commit social suicide by spending time with Alexis.

"What?" Her brows beetled together in bafflement. "Why would that be social suicide? We're," she wagged a finger back and forth between herself and Alexis, "we're friends. You have fabulous taste, are very nice, and are well brought up. Why would the Ladies take offense to me riding with you? It's not like we're playing Quidditch. We're just flying a few feet over the ground. I said it was relaxing, not terrifying."

Her eyes suddenly widened as realization struck. "Oh! Is this about the whole feud thing? I'm staying neutral in that. I don't get it. I'm," she lowered her voice, leaned in close, and darted her eyes around to make sure no one was close enough to overhear, "muggleborn," she whispered the word, though it was hardly a secret. "They don't expect me to understand or follow all of the wizarding customs. As far as I'm concerned, you playing Quidditch is no different from you playing football. You're weird for even wanting to, and you'll never catch me doing it, but it's no reason to ostracize you. I mean, I hate sports, but I went to your game because you were playing. I mean, I went to Raoul's game because he was, so I could hardly do less for one of my best friends, right?"

Holly crossed her arms and took on a defensive air. "Anyway, what I'm trying to say is I'm friends with all of you, and if you're fighting, it's not fair for any of you to put me in the middle. I don't like conflict and I don't like fighting, so everyone just needs to think of me as Switzerland or I'll start crying." It wasn't hyperbole. She really would turn on the waterworks and she wouldn't even need to force it. "And since nobody likes to see me cry, nobody will say anything to me." Or so she hoped. But if it did come down to a confrontation, she was pretty sure she could cry her way out of it. The process had worked flawlessly since she was five.

1 Holly Greer Very much so 123 Holly Greer 0 5

Alexis Ashwood

March 15, 2009 2:25 PM

I wish that there were more. by Alexis Ashwood

OOC: Sorry for the delay! I’m finally done with the SAT and the prep that it involves, so I should be able to post a lot more now :D

Alexis hadn’t meant to offend Holly. Not purposely, anyway. Maybe she was just an awful person who enjoyed upsetting people, especially those associated with her ‘enemies’. Alexis didn’t know; Alexis didn’t care. The fact that Holly even took any kind of offense to her comment made her relax a little. If she was asking because of the ‘Ladies’, then she wouldn’t have been so offended.

At the compliments, Alexis smiled a little. It was good to know that someone still saw these qualities in her. The fact that she was neutral in this situation was pretty nice, too, but a little dangerous. Holly was a mudblood, no, muggleborn (at least she was proper and decent). She didn’t understand a lot of these things. There was no way to remain neutral forever. But if she wanted to try it, Alexis certainly wasn’t going to stop her. It would be nice to have another ally in this school.

“Holly, Holly, don’t cry.” Alexis gave the girl a genuine smile. “It was just a little suspicious, you’ve got to understand that. I know you guys had a meeting a couple days ago. And I know that the letters my mother got about Quidditch were was a part of the ‘Ladies’ plot to get revenge on me…or something like that. Not you, specifically. But the ‘Ladies’ in general. Do you see where I’m coming from?” She shrugged.

“I don’t want you to take sides. I didn’t mean to offend or upset you. I want to be friends.” Though she doubted that would go over well with the ‘Ladies’. Alexis wasn’t too sure why they would matter to her in a friendship with Holly. It wasn’t like she was trying to be friends with Holly just to upset them. Right? Not sure what else to say, she ran her fingers through her hair. This apologizing thing wasn’t something she was used to.

0 Alexis Ashwood I wish that there were more. 117 Alexis Ashwood 0 5

Holly Greer

March 27, 2009 12:51 AM

Don't we all by Holly Greer

Holly hadn't planned to start crying right then - maybe in a few minutes, if Alexis had shown any intent of her own to disallow Holly to remain neutral, but not until it proved necessary - so she was able to comply with Alexis' urging to not cry without any trouble. She even smiled a little in reassurance that she wasn't about to start bawling.

Still, she pouted and crossed her arms a little defensively as Alexis tried to explain how suspicious it all was. Holly didn't think it was suspicious at all. Though, as Alexis continued, her defensiveness did ease slightly. Maybe she could have timed meeting up with Alexis a little better. She still though the other girl was just a bit paranoid, but between them, it was Holly who was addicted to anti-anxiety drugs and potions, so she was hardly one to throw stones regarding the mental health of others.

"I guess so," she conceded when Alexis asked if Holly could see where she was coming from. "But I never sent any of those letters and nobody even told me that was happening. I would have been against it if they did. Now, if we were sisters, that would be one thing - I tattle on Danny all the time - but it's not right between friends." Whether or not she would have done something about it if she'd known in time to prevent it was a different question entirely, and she was secretly glad she'd only learned about it after the fact. It left her conscience clear and avoided the stress of needing to take sides.

Holly really hoped that luck would hold because she really liked being a Lady. But as well bred as all of them were, it wasn't the same breeding. Holly had already noticed on several occasions that magical society was a couple of centuries behind the times. Holly might not agree with Alexis' choice to play Quidditch, but 21st century American muggle ideals demanded that she defend Alexis' right to make that decision for herself. Holly hardly imagined herself as the poster girl of feminism, but girls not being allowed to play sports because they were girls was just plain old sexist discrimination and that should never be tolerated.

She just didn't know if the other Ladies could understand that, and that worried her.

Holly shook her head, dismissing the concerns for now. She'd discuss them in depth with Ms. Yuma during their session this week, but Alexis deserved some kind of confirmation that Holly wasn't about to fold under peer pressure. "I'm a, a," she lowered her voice again, to admit something even more shameful than not having magical blood, "Pecari." She shrugged, and flushed slightly in embarrassment. This wasn't an association she tended to flaunt. She didn't even like admitting it out loud, except to complain about her Housemates. But she'd made her peace with her Sorting, and she'd even come to understand why it had happened. She shared this insight now. "I adapt. I can be friends with both you and the Ladies. I'm flexible like that. I mean, don't tell them this, but I actually kinda like Renaye. I mean, I'm not about to ask her to go out shopping with me, but she's a good potions partner. You, I'd go shopping with." She said this like the compliment, honor, and declaration of everlasting friendship that it was.

1 Holly Greer Don't we all 123 Holly Greer 0 5