Stalking, er, hoping to study with Emerald on Library

Winston

August 16, 2019 3:57 PM

Stalking, er, hoping to study with Emerald by Winston

Winston was pretty sure the Aladren House entrance was in the library. He reached this conclusion after following Emerald this way two nights in row. Not that he thought she was unlikely to frequent the library on a nightly basis - it was perfectly reasonable really, and he’d followed her at least in part because he was going that way anyway.

The deduction was more because she didn’t leave. Both nights, he found a table near the door so he’d see her as she left, and he could say he was coincidentally just packing up right then, too, and they could walk together in the hall, and he could ask the question he wanted to ask her in a totally casual and unpremeditated way, and then he’d know, and he could say he had to go this way to get back to Crotalus before curfew, and it wouldn’t be like he was running away if she gave an unfavorable answer.

This plan, however, was stymied by her never showing up, and twice now he’d neatly missed curfew as he waited for her to come. The first night, he could have just missed her. Maybe he’d gotten too involved in his potions essay and hadn’t seen her go. But twice?

And the third night - because of course he’d had to try a third time, though this time he hadn’t followed her, he was just testing a theory, and sure enough, Aladrens trickled in through the library doors, but not a one of them left again as it got closer and closer to curfew.

So tonight he took a different approach. He left dinner early, set up his homework at that same table near the door and watched for Emerald to come in. When she did, he waved her over.

“Hello, Emerald,” he greeted her warmly and pleasantly. “I’m working on the Transfiguration essay. Do you want to join me?”

They could work on it for a while, she was very clever in the subject, and someone to discuss the finer points with would be welcome even if he didn’t have ulterior motives. Then, as they neared completion, he could ask his question, and then, depending on the answer, notice the time and make an excuse that Simon wanted to go over some Charms work tonight and he had to go, sorry to skip out of the last of the essay, have a good night, Emerald, and that wouldn’t look at all suspicious or like he was fleeing.

It was a good plan. He just hoped she hadn’t already done the essay.

1 Winston Stalking, er, hoping to study with Emerald 370 Winston 1 5

Emerald Brockert

August 31, 2019 2:15 AM

Is it stalking if the "stalkee" doesn't mind? by Emerald Brockert

Emerald entered the library. Like probably most Aladrens, it was where she spent the bulk of her time and not just because she had to go through it to get to her common room. Reading was her favorite hobby and even though she was a seventh year and had gone through a large chunk of the books here, she was nowhere close to finishing all of them. Emerald could stay at Sonora until she died and wouldn't be able to do that. Though surely there were books that wouldn't be her sort of thing. For instance, she wouldn't touch a romance novel which both Angelique and Ruby read occasionally, with a ten foot pole.

That was not to say that Emerald was completely uninterested in having a romantic relationship. She was getting to an age where she had to think about those things that Ruby and Angelique had been thinking about since birth. Fortunately for her, well, she honestly didn't think she was going to have a problem finding a husband. Emerald already thought she might have at least one interested party and also fortunately, said party was someone she wouldn't mind being around for the rest of her life.

That was if Topaz didn't mess things up for her. Somehow, Deputy Headmistress Skies, in her infinite wisdom, had decided the wretched little monster should be on the same team as Winston. Emerald didn't know what her friend-or for that matter, Loren, Malikhi and Jeremy-had ever done to the deputy headmistress to deserve being on a team with Topaz. Or what Emerald herself had done to deserve Deputy Headmistress Skies having Winston and Topaz be on the same team.

Of course, logic and reason told her that someone had to get stuck with Topaz and it was good that it wasn't herself, Allegra or Sapphire. However, she was worried the third year would scare Winston off.

However, soon after she entered the library she was approached by the other seventh year. Emerald smiled, partially out of relief, partially because she was happy to see him. "Hello, Winston. Sure, that would be great."

11 Emerald Brockert Is it stalking if the "stalkee" doesn't mind? 358 Emerald Brockert 0 5

Winston

September 04, 2019 10:54 AM

I am not entirely sure by Winston

Winston was pleased that Emerald agreed to join him. He hadn’t really thought she wouldn’t want to, but he had been mildly concerned she might have other plans tonight or wouldn’t want to work on Transfiguration specifically. Though the later could probably have been salvaged, he was just as glad to not have to try to jump that hoop.

They spent a pleasant evening going over the essay and some related theory, and Winston felt totally prepared for a surprise quiz on this topic should Professor Skies drop one on them this week. Conversation had drifted companionably off topic a few times, touching on the challenges, other school subjects, and their families. He had expressed his hope that she was enjoying working with Caitlin on her team, and reassured her that Topaz was, if nothing else, focused on the goal and a positive contributor to the effort involved in completing the challenges.

The essay wound toward its conclusion and the time had come to broach his ulterior motive for seeking her out. As casually as he could manage, he asked, as if his entire future did not rest on her answer, and as if it had only just occurred to him to ask, “Oh, Emerald, I was wondering, for this midterm, would you like to come out to the Mountain with your family one evening? It would give my parents a chance to talk to yours, about maybe - if you wanted to, of course - making more formal arrangements for our futures?” He didn’t use the word betrothal because that was just a little bit terrifying and he didn’t want to scare her off if that wasn’t what she wanted. It would have been easier to just have his parents open negotiations with her parents, but he wanted to make sure she wanted that, too, before he tried to set anything in motion that couldn’t be easily taken back. He hurried to continue, to ensure she understood the invitation wasn’t contingent on that part, “And of course, I would like the opportunity to see you and give you your Christmas gift closer to the holiday.”

1 Winston I am not entirely sure 370 Winston 0 5