A drop in the ocean

Kelsey Bryant | 20 | Senior | Potioneering & Elementalism

[kelseybryant-blog]

laurenlansing

Lauren nodded in agreement. “Yeah, if we put them in specific places that could work,” she said. “Like fire extinguishers or something. You know how they’re kept in glass cases that you’re supposed to break in an emergency? The kits could be put in something like that.” As she listened to Kelsey explain the new rule more, it started to make more sense to her too. “Good point. We’re just a school full of interesting mishaps at this point. Hopefully it’ll be for the best! But I already had no doubts in your leadership skills with or without any new rules.” She gave her friend a smile. “What else is going on with you? You can’t just be making new potions all the time.”

Kelsey nodded- that could work. “Thanks. In any case, I’ll allot time at the next meeting to discuss the matter- both matters, actually, just to make sure everyone’s on the same page.” It would be highly unfortunate if any members of the club decided it would be worthwhile to try and break any of the Chancellor’s rules, after all. “I mean, making potions isn’t all I’m doing, but it’s probably the most interesting thing. Between classes, tutoring, extracurriculars, and RA duties, there hasn’t really been time for much else,” Kelsey admitted with a small sigh. “That’s enough about me though, what about you? Anything new on your end?” she considered asking about Zach outright, but thought better of it.

[kelseybryant-blog]

Text || Kelsey -> Artemis

Art:First of all this gives me a weird sense of deja vu. But that aside, I’ve been there, having a crush on your friend who is unavailable. I never told you guys about me and Will. But he was with my best friend for a very while in college and I had a crush but I didn’t pone. I was just sort of the best friend that was there. After he and my best friend broke up the feelings were...definitely still there. But he was very emotionally unavailable then to be fair so was I. I didn’t wait for Will, I saw other people but my feelings were there. I mean it wasn’t the right time then, and it’s take practically a decade and now it’s the right time. But I guess what I’m trying to say is you have one of two choices.

Art: Do what I did and just be the best friend and if the time is right it’ll happen, or let this perso know up front that you’re into them and let the chips fall where they may. I never did that because I didn’t want to mess up our friendship.

Art: I won’t sugar coat or say that if you wait it’ll work out or that it will work in general. Will was with and hung up on another woman for a really long time. And then neither of us were in great places. It’s all risky and there’s no great answer to this. It just depends on how you want to move forward and the risks you want to take.

Kelsey: That explains a lot, actually. I'm really glad things worked out with the two of you.

Kelsey: Thanks for the advice... I don't think I'm going to say anything to them about it. For now, at least. I think I've already liked them for a while, and it hasn't had an adverse effect on our friendship. But telling them might, and hurting our friendship sounds a lot worse than forgoing any chance of a relationship.

Kelsey: I don't suppose you have any tips for getting rid of feelings? Or... effectively pushing them aside, or something?

[kelseybryant-blog]

guapisimo-javier

“I’m glad I’m great then because I can’t even imagine not spending time with you. Who would keep me on task when we both know academics isn’t something I pay attention to.    You keep me on the right path.” He smiled at her words. “I really hope that’s true. I know that people probably think I’m a fool for still wanting to stick with it, but I really want to be there for her.” Javier leaned in and hugged Kelsey then. “Thank you, for talking to me, for being here for me. It really means a lot more than you know.”

Kelsey smiled- it was always nice to be appreciated- and hugged him back. She wasn’t as much of a hugger as most of her family was, but she’d always made an exception for Javi. Which really should have been her first warning sign, but she wasn’t going to think about that just now. “Of course. That’s what friends are for, right?” she pointed out, letting go to look at him again. “That, and making sure you pass your classes,” she teased. 

[kelseybryant-blog]

fiery-bryant

“Listen, the puppy eyes work, why change it. Well, on almost everyone. I’m pretty sure Art never once fell for them.”

Kelsey opened her mouth to provide a reason why Emily shouldn’t use the puppy dog eyes anymore, only to close it again when she realized she couldn’t think of one. There were plenty of reasons of course, but none that would be likely to deter her sister. “Who have you tried it on?” she asked instead, mildly interested. “Outside of the family, I mean."

[kelseybryant-blog]

Text || Kelsey -> Artemis

Art: I don't think anyone is going to overhear this or read. It's me, Sey-Sey, do you think anyone would dare read over my shoulder? What's going on?

Kelsey: Fair point.

Kelsey: So, there's this... person. I've come to the conclusion that I like them, but I'm not sure how to proceed. Asking them out isn't really an option, since I both consider them to be a friend and know that they're emotionally unavailable. Pining doesn't sound optimal either though, so I'm not sure what to do.

[kelseybryant-blog]

guapisimo-javier

Javier smiled at her words. “You think I’m great?” he asked her not completely sure where most got the consensus from that he was a great guy. Granted he did continue to emotionally and when he could financially support a kid that wasn’t his, but that was more selfish reasons than anything. “He might not have. I mean honestly, it’s horrible to say I wish he wasn’t there at all. Even though she’s not biologically mine, I still kind of just want to be there and be the only guy in her life. I worry that one day when she does learn the truth she won’t even want me in her life at all. That was his constant fear. Javier smiled over at her when she placed a hand on his shoulder. “I mean, those old wounds are the reason I am the way that I am about a lot of things. I’d never known one person could not just break your heart, but fucking demolish it and years later you’re still trying to pick up the pieces, you know?”

"Of course I think you’re great- you’re one of the best people I know. I wouldn’t spend nearly as much time with you if you weren’t,” Kelsey pointed out, unabashed. She considered everything else he had to say, nodding slowly. She wasn’t sure exactly how any of this would feel, not having experienced it herself, but it wasn’t hard to imagine that it would be extremely painful. “I don’t think it’s horrible for you to say- it makes sense. Everything’d be simpler if he wasn’t in the picture. For what it’s worth though, I really don’t think Harlei’ll freeze you out. Blood or no, you’re the one who’s there for her. That’s got to count for something,” she reasoned. At this point she realized she’d probably left her hand on his shoulder for too long, and promptly let it fall back to her side. 

[sophie-adler]

Sophie’s eyes moved from the table to Kelsey’s hands and she smiled to herself. Then she moved to pick up the wrappers, being OCD about neatness as she was, she wouldn’t leave them there. 

“It’s been very repetitive, don’t you agree? Maybe we should give the professor some suggestions, I’m just not sure if he would take them.”

[kelseybryant-blog]

“I highly doubt he would,” Kelsey agreed with a disgruntled shake of her head. She understood why professors often felt the need to exert total control over their classes, but it became a hindrance when said professors lacked enough ideas of their own to keep classes engaging. “Honestly, I’ve just been reading relevant sections of the text during lecture when it gets bad. I know it’s rude not to pay full attention to the professor, but it’s pretty rude of him to waste our time too. The good news is the book he assigned for the class is actually pretty well-written and provides a lot more nuance than we’ve been getting in lectures.”

[kelseybryant-blog]

laurenlansing

Lauren always knew Kelsey was smart, but sometimes the other girl’s ideas still surprised her. “That’s really smart, Kels,” she told her with a smile. “I think that’s just what the kits need. But if you still wants to include antidotes for specific things there could be kits designed for specific situations? I mean, we never know at this point. It’d be good to be prepared for anything and everything.” She nodded when Kelsey agreed to let the Potions Club help, then furrowed her brow at the mention of the Chancellor. “Yeah, what’s up with that? I feel like that was kind of a weird rule to put in place. She’s starting to seem really strict too.” She sighed. “You think we’ll ever get a normal Chancellor here?”

“That’s a good idea too,” Kelsey noted “kits for specific situations seem a lot less useful as a portable thing though, since in most cases you wouldn’t know which kind you’d want to have with you. Maybe if those types of kits were kept in stationary locations throughout the campus?” She wasn’t entirely sure how that’d work, considering they would need to be both secure enough not to be tampered with by people who didn’t know what they were doing, and accessible enough to be used in the event of an emergency. Still, there was probably a happy medium in there somewhere. “Honestly, I can see why she put that rule in place. She really doesn’t have anything to worry about with me heading up the club, but it’s had some... interesting mishaps in the past that probably could’ve been avoided with some regulations,” she pointed out.

[kelseybryant-blog]

Text || Kelsey -> Artemis

Art: Is it a matter of National Security? I don't think anyone is intercepting my text messages, but I'm at home...Will's place if you want to come over? Who would be listening? Are you in trouble? Do I need to kick someone's ass?

Kelsey: What? No, nothing like that. No one would be listening on purpose, I'm sure. I'd just really rather no one overhears (or accidentally reads) our conversation. Chances are, it would end in embarrassment if anyone did.

[kelseybryant-blog]

VOLCANO (in) SPACE

Volcano: What are you most afraid of?

Already answered

Space: Have you ever seen an eclipse?

Yes

[kelseybryant-blog]

wickedninaryback

“No! Kels, I wasn’t talking to you. Just a dumb ghost speaking when I didn’t want to be spoken to.” She pushed her phone away and tried to ignore Cecilia. “How are you, Kelsey?”

“Oh,” was all Kelsey said for a second, unsure what to make of that. “I’m good,” she answered, a tiny bit more enthusiasm injected into her voice than there would be under normal circumstances, since it seemed to her that Nina was likely in need of good news. “You know me, I’m always happy to see classes start back up again. It’s hard to believe I’ll be done with undergrad in less than a year, though,” she admitted.

[kelseybryant-blog]

fiery-bryant

“I mean you know that the two of them know they’re cute. They totally weaponize it.” Emily laughed, pulling her plate in closer to her and starting in on her pizza slice. “It’s pizza in my time of need.”

“Oh, they definitely do. I’m the first to admit I spent more on toys for them than I probably should have over the summer, but hey. Artemis spoiled us, and we turned out alright... even if some of us still fall back on the puppy-dog eyes to get what we want.”

[kelseybryant-blog]

laurenlansing

“That’s good,” Lauren replied with a smile. She raised her eyebrows at Kelsey’s next statement. “That’s really cool–what does the potion do?” She could understand if Kelsey didn’t want to make the survival kits anymore considering they were supposedly safe. “Better safe than sorry though, right? I can help you put some together if you still wanted to make a few just in case. Or we could even do that with the Potions Club. It might be easier if there are a lot of us working on them.”

“It’s an antidote- for a couple different things, actually. The main problem I’ve had with including antidotes so far is that they’re so finnicky and it just doesn’t seem worth it if it’s only for one kind of poison. One that covers several basic poisons more than merits a place in the kits though, I think,” she explained. “I agree, but overall interest in survival kits seems to have gone down since the attacks stopped, and I’ve been having a hard time finding the time to keep it up since classes started... Potions Club though, that’s an idea. Ingredients for most of the potions in the kit shouldn’t be a problem to come by in larger quantities, even with the Chancellor’s ‘approved ingredients’ list.”

[kelseybryant-blog]

savannahgkelly

“Well all you had to do was ask. It’s call nunyafuckinbusiness syndrome,” she told her with a smile. “Are you sure about that? Because the chairs around us are like a midnight blue, but that chair in particular is more of a prussian blue. It’s completely unique, you see.”

“Right. Well, I think I see a seat opening up over there,” Kelsey replied, gesturing to a table a ways away whose current inhabitants were gathering their things. “So. Have fun with your chair, I guess.”

[sophie-adler]

“All positive things then.”, she finished the chocolate and tossed the plastic to the side, chewing some and then swallowing. “We can’t complain, right?”, she gave Kelsey a glance. “Horticulture class was a pain today, I thought I was gonna die but yeah, that’s like a first world problem so it’s fine.”

[kelseybryant-blog]

Kelsey moved to pick up the wrappers but, realizing that might seem a little odd, made a mental note instead to do so only if evidence surfaced that Sophie wasn’t going to do so herself at a later point. “I mean, I wouldn’t say we can’t complain... but it has lost some of its appeal, yes,” she admitted. 

[kelseybryant-blog]

kenny-weiss

“Oh sure I would, I love getting a look under the hood.” She winked playfully. “No seriously, you can call me if you need to, what kind of car do you have?”

“A volvo,” Kelsey answered “...XC90, I think? Last year’s model,” she answered. “It’s fully operational at present, but I haven’t been entirely sure what I should do if that changes at any point.”

[kelseybryant-blog]

flower, mud, beach, hurricane, stars, float, volcano, campfire

Flower: What’s the prettiest thing you own?

Already answered

Mud: Do you like to do hands-on things?

Generally speaking, yes. 

Beach: If you could be one place right now, where would you be?

I think I’m actually happy where I am, for the time being. 

Hurricane: If you had to save one thing, what would it be?

It depends on the situation. In most cases, I’d say an emergency survival kit.

Stars: What’s one wish you have?

I’d really like it if my friends and family could be safe, moving forward. 

Float: What’s the first thing you think when you wake up?

It varies from day to day. Usually a mental run-down of what I need to do that day is fairly high up there, though.

Volcano: What are you most afraid of?

Losing the people I care about. 

Campfire: What’s your favourite childhood memory?

I’m not sure what my favorite childhood memory is, but the Christmas of ‘05 was pretty great.