Back to Reality on Crotalus Commons

Jennifer

February 04, 2005 4:56 PM

Back to Reality by Jennifer

Jennifer dropped her small duffle on the floor as she surveyed the common room. She had missed it, over the past few weeks, and it was good to be back. She had loved Louisiana, and meeting Liz's family, but Sonora really was the first place that felt like a permanent home to her. She had moved around too much for anyplace else to feel like that, and England was definitively out of the running in that catagory.

She fell back into one of the armchairs as she thought about her Christmas holiday. Brett and Javon had been very nice. Brett had bugged her consistantly about what it was like, living with an ambassador, but she didn't mind. She was used to questions like that. Javon had played a lot of quidditch with her and Liz, and he seemed the nicer of the brothers. Hermia and Helena reminded Jennifer a lot of Liz, but in a disturbingly cloned fashion.

Deep in her thoughts, she didn't notice someone else in the common room until she heard footsteps close behind her. "Hello?" she called out softly. It seemed it was time to begin the necessary socializing again.\n\n

0 Jennifer Back to Reality 0 Jennifer 1 5

Chrissy

February 10, 2005 12:27 AM

better reality than some crummy nightmare by Chrissy

Chrissy's head of blonde hair bobbed around as she sauntered through the school. Her and Tally had just gotten back from holidays with their families and Chrissy was exhausted. She loved her family, but they were overwhelming at times.

Jenna had spent some of the holiday with them. They had taken her bowling, brought her to see movies at the cinema. They went skating and sleding. They had made a snowman and had a snowball fight. Plus, Jenna finally got to see just how cute Tally's brother, Josh really was. Chrissy giggled at that thought.

"Hello?"

Chrissy's head snapped up and she saw Jennifer's head from the back. She walked up to her and plopped herself down in a chair across from her.

"Hi Jennifer, have a good holiday?" She asked with a smile.\n\n

6 Chrissy better reality than some crummy nightmare 47 Chrissy 0 5

Jennifer

February 10, 2005 4:23 PM

How do we know which is the nightmare, and which is reality! by Jennifer

Jennifer settled back into her chair and grinned. It was only Chrissy, who seemed like one of the nicest girls in her house. Of course, she hadn't met very many of them. Plus, Chrissy had a name that was almost as bad as hers was. To most people, that didn't mean much, but anyone who had dealt with it could say it was strong binding material.

"It was pretty nice. I went to Louisiana with Liz, met her family, just lazed about for a while. Really different from my family. You can never really just be yourself with them." Jennifer almost regretted saying the last sentence, but sqiftly realized that it didn't matter. Anyone with sense would realize what she meant, and understand it.

She shot Chrissy a grin. "So, how about you? D'you do anything special?" \n\n

0 Jennifer How do we know which is the nightmare, and which is reality! 0 Jennifer 0 5

Chrissy

February 13, 2005 9:33 PM

That's why you pinch yourself just to be sure by Chrissy

Chrissy nodded as she listened to Jennifer talk about her stay at Elizabeth's place. She was somewhat surprised, but figured they were probably good friends both having come from strict pureblood families. Not that Chrissy could say anything, her family wasn't any better, well, her extended family anyway.

"Actually, Jenna Howard came up to stay with Tally and myself. It was so much fun. We went and saw movies and had snowball fights and went bowling. It was so glorious!" Chrissy beamed, "Plus, I got to stare at Josh for two whole weeks." She added with a dreamy smile.

"Are you happy to be back now? Away from the fam and all that jazz?" Chrissy asked as she sat herself indian-style in the large chair.\n\n

6 Chrissy That's why you pinch yourself just to be sure 47 Chrissy 0 5

Jennifer

February 14, 2005 12:20 AM

Oh daer, I sense a deep conversation of subjects coming on by Jennifer

Jennifer nodded. "Yeah, you could say so. I wish I could have seen my dad, but he's in France at the moment, and couldn't get away. But it's just so much more peaceful here then anywhere else. It makes me feel more at ease."

Then she gave Chrissy a calculating glance. "So, whose Josh?" she asked innocently, twinkling eyes giving her awa. She loved having friends who she wouldn't have to leave at the spur of teh moment, and friends who understood the magical world, and all of it's issues. It was a blessing, that was to say the least. But if the blessing ahd a curse with it, she couldn't say.\n\n

0 Jennifer Oh daer, I sense a deep conversation of subjects coming on 0 Jennifer 0 5

Chrissy

February 14, 2005 7:51 AM

Really? Whatever gave you that idea? by Chrissy

Chrissy smiled at Jennifer, "That's a shame. Close to your father then, are you?" Even though they shared the same dorm, Chrissy hadn't really gotten to know Jennifer all that well. For the most part, Chrissy had spent most of her time with Tally or Jenna. It was nice spending some time way from the two of them.

"Josh is Tally's gorgeous older brother. He's-er-24, I believe and an Auror. He's one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet too. He taught us how to fly and he does everything for Tally and, in retrospect, me." Chrissy said with a giggle. "I think I have a picture of him...somewhere...I'll have to look for it." Chrissy looked thoughtful for a moment as she tried to remember, but shook her head to clear her thoughts, "Anyway, Tally gets a bit flustered when I talk about him, so...we'll just keep this to ourselves. Or tell her, I like it when she's mad, it's rather funny. Swears like a sailor. Although, it doesn't help that she was raised by two guys, both Aurors. I think that might have something to do with it." Chrissy shrugged.

"Anyway, ever met anyone worth fancying?"\n\n

6 Chrissy Really? Whatever gave you that idea? 47 Chrissy 0 5

Jennifer

February 14, 2005 4:38 PM

Je ne sais pas by Jennifer

Jennifer grinned even more, suprised that it was even possible. She really did like this girl. Chrissy had a way of making humor and serious conversation blend in a way so that you had neither too many deep subject, or too few. Pulling out her sketch pad almsot absentmindedly, and begining to sketch her surroundings, she replied, "Ah, a friend's older brother. I had the same experience. Liz has an older brother, Javon, and he's completely gorgeous too.

"And yeah, my dad and I are close. He raised me from like age one on." She sighed, and continued to draw, twirling a lock of hair around her finger. She was constantly drawing, really. She thought that it helped her understand everyone, capture a little piece of her surroundings, and all. That's all she really wanted, to understand.

"As for fancying, well, I've met one really awesome guy, Jake Santoro, but I really don't know yet. I haven't met most people in this school yet."\n\n

0 Jennifer Je ne sais pas 0 Jennifer 0 5

Chrissy

February 14, 2005 5:58 PM

k, that's french and that's all I know by Chrissy

Chrissy couldn't help the smile that grew on her face when she noticed Jennifer seemed to be in a fine mood. Her brown eyes watched as jennifer began drawing on a pad and Chrissy self-consciously patted at her blonde curls.

"Jake? He's a Teppenpaw with the large family, correct? Tally knows him, but I haven't really spoken to him. As for Elizabeth, I know of her family, but have only seen them at parties. That was before I knew Elizabeth, of course, so I'm sure I'll meet her brothers at some point." Chrissy eyes remained on Jennifer's notepad, she was curious to know what she was drawing, but to well-mannered to actually ask.

"Do you draw?" She asked politely, "I dance, but that's about all I can do artistically." Chrissy said with a playful smile. Dancing was something she could do well.\n\n

6 Chrissy k, that's french and that's all I know 47 Chrissy 0 5

Jennifer

February 16, 2005 8:46 PM

I don't know nothing by Jennifer

Jennifer gave a startled glance to her sketchbook. SHe had even noticed that she had gotten it out, so routine was the gesture. She gave Chrissy a slightly sheepish smile. "Yeah, I've been drawing forever," she replied softly, slightly lost in thought. "It's something that I can't lose, like a singer can lose their voice, and it helps me remember things. I started drawing when I figured out that I would have to leave places at a minute's notice occasionally, with no time to take photos or anything."

She showed Chrissy the drawing of the common room she had begun, fire, couches, and everything sketched in lightly, with a bit of the intricate work begun. She was very lost in thought now. She was thinking of all the friends she had left behind over hte years, so many that she couldn't even remmeber what they looked like. Sometimes they just disappeared, and no one knew what had happened to them.

It's the price we pay, her father had repeatedly told her. If we want magic, we have to take it all, the good and the bad. Magic and consistancy cannot live together. And even in the muggle world, problems occur. That's why those kids leave. They're attempting to avoid the problems. Jennifer had later found out that most of those kids had been half-bloods, and that there had been pureblood issues in those neighborhoods long before she had stepped foot there.

Then, of course, there was that other reason she drew. If she drew something, then she could understand the way that things worked. After she figured that out, then she could learn where to fit in so that she wouldn't be noticable. That was the way she worked.Too much attention was bad. It drew unwanted notice, and, well, there was no place that was completely safe. That was what her life had taught her. \n\n

0 Jennifer I don't know nothing 0 Jennifer 0 5

Chrissy

March 01, 2005 6:59 PM

Nah, I'm sure you know something by Chrissy

Chrissy looked over at her drawing with some awe. She had never thought about art in any sort of the word. Yes, she loved to dance, and yes, it was a form of art. But it was performing arts and anyone could do it with some practice. But this, this was true art.

"That's wonderful." Chrissy said quietly. Something occurred to her a moment later, "Jennifer, do you ever hate the fact that you're a pureblood?" It came from nowhere, but Chrissy always wondered how others thought of the lives that they lived.\n\n

6 Chrissy Nah, I'm sure you know something 47 Chrissy 0 5

Jennifer

March 02, 2005 9:03 PM

Literal translation, I swear by Jennifer

Jennifer looked at Chrissy, yet not really seeing her. She reached out and took the drawing pad back, yet she was still so lost in her thoughts that she would not have noticed if a bomb had dropped into the common room. She was so lost in memories that her eyes began to take on a glazed, almost half-there appearance. One in particular caught her mind, and held her.

A six year old Jennifer was being dragged into a house by an angry looking lady with long black hair, her esteemed mother. Jennifer had been caught "fraternizing" with the child of a muggle that lived in a town near her mother's estate. Tears flew down her face as her mother screamed at her about how she had contaminatied herself, and lectured on and on about the purity of blood. It was the first, and last, time that Jennifer had gone to her mother's house until she was forced to last year.

Jennifer shook her head, trying to get teh memories out of it. Then she focused in on Chrissy. "There are times when I do. The expectation level, and all. I mean, muggleborns and purebloods really are the same, after all. Parentage is the only thing different about any two people." She bit her tongue to stop herself talking. In her family, these kinsd of words could get you disowned, or, in a few darker places, killed. She gave Chrissy an inquisitive look. "What about you? Do you ever hate it?"

\n\n

0 Jennifer Literal translation, I swear 0 Jennifer 0 5

Chrissy

March 03, 2005 9:22 PM

Still, it shows you know something by Chrissy

Chrissy sat back in her chair with a sigh. Sometimes she wonder why she even bothered with the tough questions when they would always come back to haunt her.

Did she hate being a pureblood? No, not really. The traditions and ideals of purebloods infuriated her. The fact that purbloods thought themselves superior infuriated her, but she couldn't say that she hated being one.

"No, not really. My family does as they should when it comes to the proper appearances and stuff, but they never thought themselves to be better then anyone or taught me to be. I think it helps that my mom's best friend was disowned from her family for the fact that she wouldn't follow their stupid rules anymore." Chrissy shrugged slightly, "Loosened my parents up a bit, I think." Chrissy turned away from Jennifer for a moment.

She liked it here and she certainly liked the people that she'd met. All of them so very different from what she had always known, but all of them so very much the same. "Do you think you'll be forced away from here since you move so much? Or is this your permanent place of residence?" Chrissy asked.\n\n

6 Chrissy Still, it shows you know something 47 Chrissy 0 5

Jennifer

March 04, 2005 12:21 AM

I never said i didn't know anything by Jennifer

Jennifer gave Chrissy a small smile. That had been just what her mother had written to her about during the first semester. She hadn't heard from her since, but she was still worried.

"I think this is going to be my permanent residence, at least during the school year," she replied easily. "My dad said that it was important for me to have some constant. However, my mom got angry with me a few months ago, because she said I wasn't 'living up to my full potential as a pureblood,' or something ridiculous like that, and siad she would force me to leave if it didn't stop. I haven't heard from her since, so I think I'm staying."\n\n

0 Jennifer I never said i didn't know anything 0 Jennifer 0 5

Chrissy

March 07, 2005 9:33 AM

yes you did, you said it in french. by Chrissy

"That's a bit harsh, don't you think? I mean, to remove you from what you've come accustom too just because they don't like something or whatever seems a bit much. At least it does to me." Chrissy said, rather surprised by Jennifer's mother's attitude.

"Okay, I'm officially glad I'm a Mathers. Pureblood, yes, but at least we're lenient in the way we live our lives." Chrissy said as she stood. She smiled down at Jennifer, "Don't worry though, even if they ship you off to the neverworlds, I'll still be your friend. I have an owl you know, we'll write. But lets home that never needs to happen." She turned to head for the stairs.

"I'm heading up to finish some letters and put away all my new stuff. I'll see you later." And with a wave to Jennifer, Chrissy bounded up the stairs.\n\n

6 Chrissy yes you did, you said it in french. 47 Chrissy 0 5