Only the brave.

Aiden Gastrell. Ilvermorny Thunderbird.  Seventh Year. 

[aidengastrell-blog]

lyannamontague:

Lyanna followed for his suit, as she put one arm against the table and tilted her head slightly, with her cheek rested against her hand. She was staring at him, for a certain. She couldn’t bring herself to not to, nor did she make an effort to hide the obvious. She gnawed on her lip, before she turned into a giggle fit.

“–Fair enough. It’s about the Human Transfiguration and I’m not entirely worried about your work, if I’m being honest. It’s also about the time you have to waste to put up with me.”

Aiden certainly didn’t notice the way he was being looked off and if he had noticed he would have merely taken it as a sign of her attention. The fact she was laughing made him much more comfortable though because it surely reaffirmed she wasn’t perturbed by the whole situation - not such a rarity when it came to tutoring and relationships between students. 

“Well I’m not going to consider it a waste if I’m able to help someone now am I? So don’t say stuff like that or you’ll make me question stuff.”

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lyannamontague:

Lyanna musters another smile, at the sight of him tidying his desk. She was planning on asking him a couple of questions and not lingering on his presence. Yet something tells her that she might want to change her mind. She glanced around, before finding his gaze landed against her, rather in a curious manner.

“–Well, my professor was thinking that maybe you can help me with my Transfiguration essay. That, if you don’t mind me stopping by and perhaps holding you back from your work for a couple or more times..”

Aiden merely laughed when she spoke and shook his head. Back at Ilvermorny he’d always exceeded in classes and he was exceptionally proud of that so the idea of a professor suggesting him to help another student was very endearing. With another smile he pulled a book closer and rested his arms atop it.

“Well I’d like to say straight away that I’m able to help but you’ll have to give me some explanation about what you need to know. Don’t worry about my work though. I always get it done.”

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vxweasley:

It wasn’t that she hadn’t given it thought before– she had, many a time, and upon every re-reading developed a new notion to add to the repertoire. But it was far different to voice it to a stranger. But nonetheless, fair was fair, he had answered her prodding questions with sincerity. “I think in one way or another, he contradicts himself with the idea that hell is other people. Like you said, we have all the freedom in the world to control our inner workings. In that way, we are most cruel to ourselves.” Her eyes flick down to the book laying closed, her mind momentarily going elsewhere. Time stills for a moment, before she forces herself to focus back at her companion. “So, you’re a twin?” She confirms, ignoring the previous thoughts laid out before them. 

“I think all of the best writers are capable of contradicting themselves. At least to me it expresses that they aware that every idea has flaws and there are other ways in which to approach the schools of thought.” He explained, a small shrug raising his shoulders as he trailed off. It wasn’t often that he got to delve this deep in to conversations about this kind of stuff with anyone that wasn’t himself. It was refreshing. She was correct though and he had to say that he agreed with a lot of it. He noted the way she look at the book but he didn’t comment. “Uh yes. I have a twin sister. So no, we’re not identical or anything. How about you? Do you have siblings?” 

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lyannamontague:

“–Of course! ”

Her lips curved into a smile, matching with his own. Needless to say, she didn’t expect him to welcome her this easily. Maybe he’s like another friendly face around, which was pleased for her to bump into. Lyanna make her way around and slides into the now empty chair next to him. She put her satchel down on the floor, as her eyes narrowed at the sight of the parchment in front of him.

“–Are you sure that I don’t hold you back from your work?”

Aiden shuffled just a little when she took a seat at his side. He didn’t want his workspace to seem messy so he very quickly stacked the books more efficiently. He didn’t know why it should bother him so much but he took a lot of pride in his work. “Oh I’m sure that you don’t. If anyone isn’t able to make time then they haven’t done enough work or started it in time.” He smiled and rested one of his elbows on the table, looking at her curiously. “So uh....can I help at all? I assumed you came here to find me for something...?” 

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pomnari:

Nari nodded, relaxing a little more in his presence once she realized he wasn’t going to make fun of her. “She’s a pest sometimes but I wouldn’t change a thing,” she said, stroking behind Bonnie’s head, making the niffler squeak and roll. Bonnie nuzzled into Aiden’s hand once she was back on her feet and her tiny tongue poked out to lick his fingers.

“The leash was mostly to keep her from escaping, yeah. It was impossible to keep track of her without it,” she explained. Now that she’d managed to get the harness on a much calmer Bonnie, she held the end of the leash in one hand and then held the niffler out to the boy, offering her to him to hold. “That’s funny. Jia’s an Asian barred owlet. She’s a small, puffy little thing, but she’s quite calm.”

The way little Bonnie squeaked and rolled made Aiden’s heart melt slightly. He had always loved animals and he’d read a fair amount after the little niffler kind in his times in the library. He knew that wizards should live in the harmony with the creatures that surrounded them and he also absolutely adored dogs. His father did too and when Aiden finally got to go home he’d be excited to see the three that the Gastrell family owned. 

When Bonnie was offered in his direction, he grinned at the woman and took the little niffler delicately in his hands. He held her securely against his chest, rubbing her belly in the way that he had seen Nari do. “You are very sweet, Bonnie.” He chuckled before nodding enthusiastically. “I know the breed and she sounds absolutely adorable. Funny how owls are so convenient for us, huh?”

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vxweasley:

She closes the book, placing it beside her, as she leans across the table, her hands clasping. Her smile borders sly. “I suppose that’s sufficient to allow you to stay. Besides– you’ve won my favor by not being a Sartre purist. They’re the worst. ” She sighs out the last syllable, as if deeply wounded by those particular intellectuals. Her thoughts return to his assessment of existentialism, and she regards him carefully in reflection. “So you really do believe that we are all trapped in the relationships around us? Doomed to life’s purgatory? Finding solace only within ourselves?” 

“I would entirely agree.” He said with a dramatic sigh of his own. In reality, the idea of purists of any philosopher was very rather humorous. Humans were so fascinating because they had the free will to choose what they placed their faith in. Ultimately everyone was going to form their own path anyway. “I believe that our relationships can certainly shackle us and condemn us to a certain state of existence. My twin sister certainly taught me that growing up. Yet, it is senseless to think of complaining since nothing foreign has decided what we feel, what we live, or what we are. See, he’s useful in most situations. How about you? What do you feel?”

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vxweasley:

There’s a moment of pause where Victoire reflects on the man’s comment, and then, less pressingly, on his actual presence. Her eyes drifting over his features, before coming back down to rest on the book. There weren’t many individual’s that would quote Sartre at her, let alone one of his most influential thoughts. She couldn’t help but beam. “Some might say this is practically a blasphemy to say, especially Sartre purists, but I almost enjoy his plays more than any of the novels.” 

“Well I do not consider myself a purist of Sartre so your comment is safe with me.” Aiden assured her playfully as he turned a little more and placed his hands on the back of the chair on the empty side of the table. “L'enfer, c'est les autres.” He spoke softly, sliding one hand in to his pocket. “Hell is indeed the Other. I must say I have only assessed a few of his plays. Does that mean I have to walk away now? Because I’ve read No Exit at least thrice. Was just too enraptured by Being and Nothingness to go a fourth.”

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vxweasley:

—-Stirring her hot cocoa haphazardly, Victoire batted her lashes at the book in her hands, fingers splayed across the back cover as her fingers flipped the page ever-so often. Her expression would hover from consternation, forehead creased, lips pursed, to thoughtfulness, head tilted, lips curving up. She pauses a moment, to look up at her surroundings– warm, homey cafe in the midst of Hogsmeade. Momentarily she turns back to the pages, before being distracted by the individual ahead of her. 

“Jean-Paul Sartre is an absolute genius.” She exclaims, referencing the text waving in her hands. 

Aiden was always intrigued by the sight of other’s reading. He liked to know what texts interested people and it made him exceptionally happy to see another human being engrossed so deeply in literature and academia. So when he was crossing toward an empty table in the small cafe, the blonde holding the book caught his eye. When she spoke, assuming it was just a one way interaction on his part, Aiden took a moment to respond.

“Yes. Yes he is.” He retorted softly. “Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does. It is up to you to give life a meaning.” He quoted with a thoughtful expression before gesturing to the book. “Excellent interpretation of life and our adaptation to existential matters.”

[aidengastrell-blog]

lyannamontague:

Her eyes flickered on his face, quietly studying his features as their eyes meet. She was convinced that they were never met before, because she’d recognized that face anywhere. But, his presence feels familiar. Although she can simply dismiss the thought, simply as they’ve probably bumped their ways somewhere in this castle. 

“–Ah.. We – I think we have never met before. I’m Lyanna, Lyanna Montague.”

Aiden turned his body toward the newcomer a little more and offered her a small smile. He wasn’t used to being approached out of the blue but it wasn’t exactly close to the weirdest thing that had ever happened to him. With a quick look at the chair next to him, he plucked up the books he’d set there and placed them aside.

“Do you want to sit, Lyanna? If you’re hanging about that is and not just....making introductions.”

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rosamellaroux:

Rosamel looked to the other, nodding. “Perhaps it’s the translation runes that mess it up for me, I’m not sure.” He shrugged, letting the band securing his hair snap into place, moving his hands back to his bag, letting his sleeves fall back over his inked arms. “I think I’m okay, thank you though.” He smiled warmly at the other, beginning to make his way out of the classroom. “Is this even your class? I don’t think I’ve seen you in here before.”

“We can go with that. It’s quite difficult to carry magic across the pond. You’d have thought it would have been pretty universal but...” He smiled at the other male and nodded respectfully. “Uh no, it’s not my class but I sort of said I’d help someone out with learning some stuff and I think I might have got the wrong time or the wrong place or....never mind.” He sighed and looked toward the door. “I’ll find them around.”

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pomnari:

“It normally works if you’re willing to sacrifice something,” she said, giggling despite herself. “But Bonnie is being particularly difficult today.” She nodded appreciatively when the boy covered up the watch on his wrist and Bonnie quieted down some. “Thanks. She really does mean well. It’s just in her nature to get excited about things that shine.” Bonnie let out a trilling noise at the gentle strokes to her stomach and finally seemed to settle a bit.

“Yeah…nifflers certainly have a lot more energy than you’d think based on how they look. She keeps me on my toes, that’s for sure.” She laughed at the idea of an owl pulling on his hair, and shook her head. “My owl hasn’t ever tried that luckily. Jia’s always been very well behaved. What breed of owl do you have?”

“Didn’t realise nifflers came at such a price.” He joked, observing Bonnie with a clearly affectionate look. He’d read all about the small creatures in library books and their actions fascinated him. But then again, most things in life that one could learn fascinated Aiden. “Hey, we’ve all gotta get excited about something, right? She can’t help it anyway. Can you, little one?” He practically cooed at her, softly continuing to stroke her tiny tummy.

“Do you have to chase her around a lot? Or was that the initial genius idea behind the leash?” He asked, genuinely curious. “It’s a Boreal Owl. It’s got these funny little eyes and he kinda refuses to fly when it’s not cold. He’s very temperamental. I wish I could say mine was well behaved like yours.”  

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lyannamontague:

Almost her entire day, Lyanna had spent by searching for a boy, the one that her professor had mention for her to find. Usually, it wasn’t such a nuisance for her to get through, as she began to familiar with several old and new faces around. But, apparently, this person isn’t someone who she ever heard, nor encounter before. For sure, no one expects her to know each and every person bustling around the ground, but she takes her advantage rather seriously. Her feet brought her to the Library, a first place that comes to mind. It’s not hard to figure out about where someone might offer a tutoring lesson to any student. A couple of asking game later, she finally spotted someone on the spot near the window and decide to make an approach.

“–Aiden? Aiden Gastrell?”

@aidengastrell

Aiden sighed softly as he closed yet another book and set it atop the pile next to him. Every so often he would turn his gaze to the window, observing the training ground and the Hogwarts landscape beyond. It was certainly very different here to Ilvermorny and although he missed his school, he was certainly adjusted to being here. Setting down his quill, he folded his hands behind his head and closed his eyes for just a few seconds. “The length of time that it can exist in being is...” He muttered under his breath before leaning forward once more and scribbling more notes on his parchment. He was nearing the bottom of the page when he heard his name and looked up. 

“Uh that’s me....am I....sorry, I think I’ve forgotten who you are.”

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slytherinselena:

To say Selena was a shell of who she used to be was an accurate statement. She glided through the castle like a ghost, alternating between the hospital wing and her common room. She couldn’t bring herself to eat, sleep, or study like a normal student knowing full well that Scorpius, Brynn, and Ambrose were all hurt. Even Professor Slughorn couldn’t get a grasp on her for she was never at one place long enough for someone to force her to do those things. Her grades were not a concern for her now that there were people being kidnapped or worse. Her own best friend was in the latter category yet people expected her to act as if everything was normal. She rushed through the hallways, trying to shake off yet another pawn sent by Headmistress McGonagall. Keeping her head down to avoid being recognized, Selena collided head on into an old friend. “A-aiden? Shite. Are you hurt?” Her hands instinctively reached for head to feel for any bumps as a result of the collision. Selena couldn’t bear the thought of hurting yet another person close to her. @aidengastrell

The intensity of the tournament was certainly heightening. The bad news that kept flooding from the mouths of adults around them and the fear etched on the features of the students created the strangest atmosphere in the castle. Aiden felt it too. He was worried for the people he knew and the friends he longed to keep close. The Ilvermorny champ hadn’t exactly come out of the last task in perfect shape and Selena, rather ironically also on the team of his schoolmate, made him worried constantly. At least recently. He’d seen her breakdown after the first task. The screams. The breakdown. He had been occupying himself in the library for the past few hours, examining runes and peering through stacks of books but finally he had decided it was time to return to his accommodation. But, by chance, he quickly found other plans. He was just turning a corner when their bodies collided and he instantly reached for her to make sure she was steady. “Hey, of course I’m not. Don’t fret.” He said softly, rubbing her shoulder. “Like you could do any damage to me anyway.” He was joking with her but he still crouched a little to meet her eyes. It had been weird growing up and seeing her every so often. At one point she’d been taller than him and now....times had changed. “Where are you going so fast? You’ll tire yourself out.”

[aidengastrell-blog]

pomnari:

Nari looked up, her cheeks going red. She finally managed to get the harness around Bonnie’s tiny frame and then stood up, hugging the niffler to her chest as she met the other student’s eyes, embarrassment blooming in her chest. “It isn’t blackmail. I’m just…bargaining. Negotiating. All the good politicians do it,” she said in a rush, squeaking a little as Bonnie tried to fling herself at the boy, he must’ve had some kind of shiny thing on him. “Bonnie stop,” she whispered, giving him a frazzled smile as she adjusted the squirming creature she was holding.

“This? No…it’s…I made it myself. They don’t need to be walked but it’s the only way I can let her out of my room without her making a scene or wreaking havoc. She’s usually okay with it but I guess she’s just being difficult today,” she admitted, tickling Bonnie on the belly in an attempt to get her to stop trying to escape.

“Bargaining with a niffler. That is an interesting tactic that I won’t dwell upon because I don’t quite know the normal outcome.” He said slowly, his grin growing enormously when the small animal flung itself in his direction. Looking down toward his hand, he caught the glint of his wristwatch and hastily tugged his sleeve over it. He didn’t want to give Bonnie any distractions that she couldn’t refuse. That was just mean. “Hey now, she’s just being thief friendly. If you can consider it that way....” He laughed and stepped closer to look at Bonnie. 

“She’s a little trouble maker isn’t she? Big personality for such a small thing.” He leant out and prodded her belly very softly. “I remember when I first got my owl he had an awful habit of pulling hair. He’d just be attracted to it and want to yank it with his beak. Took a few good talking tos before he stopped.”

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rosamellaroux:

Rosamel snapped his Transfiguration textbook shut and placed it among the contents of his bag, which he promptly threw over his shoulder. His brain felt like mush after the hour and a half spent in that god forsaken classroom. He turned to the person nearest him, speaking as he secured his long hair into a bun. “Why is Transfiguration so much harder here? I’ve taken this class for six years and yet I feel like I’m having gibberish spewed at me.” 

Aiden was occupying his time waiting for some. He’d promised one of the younger student from Ilvermorny some tutoring and said he’d meet them after class but he wasn’t actually sure he’d got the right time. Heck, maybe he’d got the wrong day. He lingered, seeing the class move and hesitated before stepping inside. He was barely over the threshold before he heard someone....was he addressing him? “You think it’s harder at Hogwarts? I think they teach it pretty well.” He said simply, shrugging his shoulders. “I can...try and help clarify anything real quick if you’re struggling.”

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pomnari:

Nari was kneeling on the ground in front of the doors leading out of the castle and into the courtyard, trying to keep her niffler, Bonnie, from slipping out of her grasp with one hand and trying to wrestle a tiny bedazzled harness and leash onto her with the other. She’d crafted both herself, and usually Bonnie allowed them on with only a minor struggle, content to paw at the faux gemstones. But apparently today was not her day. 

“Bonnie,” she hissed. “We’ve been over this! You let yourself be harnessed and when we get back in my room you get to roll around in my coin collection. That’s the deal!” She froze, abruptly realizing someone was standing in front of her and that her rambling probably looked bizarre at best, and slowly looked up, an embarrassed smile taking over her face. “This is not…what it looks like.”

Aiden had chosen to wonder the cold grounds of the grand school that afternoon, a book tucked under his arm and a rhythmic pattern of spells flicking through his mind. He was loving how much the Hogwarts library had to offer (not that the Ilvermorny libraries were sub-par) but there was so many new things to learn! The history of Hogwarts. The ancestry of British Wizardy. It fascinated him alongside all the spells he knew he could one day master. 

He was just heading back to the castle when he spotted a small figure and an even tinier creature near the entrance. The conversation was muffled at first but as he got closer it grew louder and the sight of the girl trying to.....leash the niffler was more than amusing. He came to a stop and smiled down at Nari. “Not what it looks like? So you’re not blackmailing this sweet little creature here?” He gestured toward the harness. “Do they sell those? Are you meant to walk nifflers?”

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