Ensorcelling Landscape || Swan, Isabella.

[ren]

"It's so quiet; I would expect there to be a few songbirds," the voice of a bored female that sat leaning against a tree trunk muttered, the sound barely escaping her lips as the young Hufflepuff twirled her hair with her pointer and index fingers. Rininnia Bridges sighed heavily as she moved her gaze toward the tree branches above, dull sunlight peeking through the gaps in between the leaves. "The school has never been so exciting in my four years of attendance," she murmured sarcastically and rolling her eyes, she let the boredom consume every square inch of her brain. The courtyard usually had people whispering and walking around; normally, Rinny would be on a jog or stretching, but she hadn't dressed appropriately for the event, wearing a beige, crocheted sweater, a white camisole, and a pair of casual jeans. Any expert athlete would know that jeans and running in the heat were not good combinations, and she really did not want to enter the school, sweating like a mad dog.

"What to do, what to do?" Aleric was nowhere in sight, and who else was roaming the landscape splayed before her, her multi-colored irises within her eyes scanning any corner she had missed, but she was absolutely sure Al was somewhere else, probably within the walls of the castle, but who would know for sure? She stood up, slow and steady, sliding up the splintery tree bark, for support. Oh, Jesus, the school was so silent the last few days; or at least, that was how it had seemed to Rinny. The evidence to support her case was sadly true, and the proof was she was quiet, and just... hadn't made a lasting impression on her classmates, or maybe she was considered unpopular. She didn't blame others on account of this, for this fact in particular was pure honesty, and her cousin couldn't agree more; Rinny truly was a bit odd, grinning at those people she didn't even know, which apparently, was considered unfriendly in these parts. At least, the smiling randomly part won in the long run for having the most misunderstood intentions. Or that word itself was a possibility: Misunderstood. Probably the best way to describe her.

On her feet now, the fifteen-year-old Hufflepuff seeked civilization, pacing under the cool, lighted shade of the tree, as each moment passed, the sun was sinking, the air grew chillier, and Rinny was grateful she had chosen to wear the sweater instead of her sweats. A swim in the lake later seemed like a good idea at the time, and she peered about the bushes, and the nearest bench, the heat setting anything below it ablaze if one did not take cover. She had the option of sitting atop the bench, but found it more likely to be in her nature to seat herself upon the grass, especially if a visitor were to come by her, but the fact of the matter was, she was daydreaming yet again, and no one would be the slightest bit friendly to her. It seemed to Rinny that no one in their right mind acted that way; others's behaviors were completely another story, and one who did act kindly was considered a miracle in her perspective, because the school had a handful of variety, and kindness was not one of the categories that varied among-st the students.

{It isn't that great, but I was rushed. I'm such a perfectionist.}

[bella]

“Damn it Hemlock, don’t you have someone else to go and irritate?” Bella snapped at him, unable to find any reason for him to take such an interest in her. But he seemed bent on getting revenge for their slightly brush up against one another from a previous time. Bella of course remembered it in good humor: Kole had been with her at Honeydukes and just their luck, the infamous Kalib Hemlock and his groupie Zane Ritchie had wandered in. It quickly turned into a battle of cunningness – and the girls had one. They’d slid the two Slytherin’s laughing lollipops, making them go into hysterics right in front of everybody. Obviously Hemlock hadn’t forgotten and now he was finding the best way to get back at her by interrupting study time.

“Ooo, Puffer’s going hard, aren’t you? I haven’t ever heard you so pissed.” Hemlock seemed to be enjoying her frustration at him – he knew she wasn’t much of a cusser. Bella had been perfectly content sitting at one of the tables in the library and he’d come in, swung a chair around, and was now sitting backwards on it, arms propped up on the back with his chin rested on that. He was staring at her with a look of satisfaction and annoyance: satisfaction because he had succeeding in making her thoroughly agitated, annoyance because it wasn’t nearly enough for him. “There’s a reason for that you idiot – I don’t ever talk to you.” His eyes narrowed just like a snakes. “Babe, why do you have to be so cold? I hate you as much as the next person but honestly, where’s all this hostility coming from?” A think smirk lined his lips, daring her to retort. Bella did just a little bit more then retort: she jumped out of her chair and with a wave of her wand had everything back into her bag and slung it over her shoulder. “You,” she growled impatiently and started walking towards the exit. Hemlock could be so irritating.

He apparently felt he hadn’t annoyed her enough, already right behind her. “Ouch,” he whined; Bella didn’t reply. She kept walking, staring straight ahead. “Hey!” he snarled and caught her around the waist. Bella’s eyes grew wide in angry shock and uncharacteristically spun right around and slapped Hemlock right across the face. His hand flew to his cheek, eyes as furious as hers now. “That’s what you get you filthy flee bag,” Bella smirked, feeling better. Hemlock glowered at her, replying angrily “You’ll pay for that one Swan.” She snorted. “I look forward to it.” Bella turned back around and stalked out of the library, feeling quite contaminated. Hemlock had no right to touch her, period.

Fuming the entire way, Bella made her way back to the Common Room. She knew why she was going there – she wanted to find Drew and demand he go pulverize Hemlock for her. Disappointment was all she found in the Common Room though, Drew no where to be found. Bella sighed and dropped off her bag up in her dorm, returning back downstairs only to leave a few minutes later. She felt quite restless now, skin tingling in irritation. “What a freak,” she muttered as she shoved her hands into her jean pockets. Being a gossiper made Bella rather knowledgeable about everyone at the school, but it was no secret to anyone here that Hemlock had been going out with that Covas girl for a while now. Bella had half a mind to go find Covas and tell her to keep an eye on Hemlock. Even if he’d only really abused her verbally, Covas might as well know what a jerk she was dating. Poor girl.

“Time for a walk,” she decided weakly, knowing she was too worked up to bother doing anything else. She was actually feeling better about the whole ordeal once she was walking down the steps of the castle, the cool afternoon air comforting. “Shake it off,” Bella muttered, “Just forget about him.” God Hemlock was infuriating. Keeping her pace at a controlled stroll, Bella walked along the gravel path, eventually winding up in the Courtyard. It surprised her to see a scarce amount of students occupying it; most of the time the place was filled. Scanning the faces, both familiar and unfamiliar, she caught no one of particular interest. Frowning slightly, she kept walking. She’d almost made it half way across the intercepting path when she noticed another Hufflepuff – Bella had seen the girl around in the Common Room on occasion. After making sure she didn’t look like she’d just had a cat fight, Bella wandered over to her. “Hey,” she smiled, hoping she wasn’t intruding. “I think I’ve seen you around…it’s um, Rachael, right?” Bella didn’t really think that was correct; she only knew it started with an R. “I’m Bella,” she offered, likewise aware that the girl might not know her name.


OOC: Ha, totally know where you’re coming from. XD

[ren]

Footsteps could be heard from afar, but Rinny knew it wouldn't be Aleric. She ought to stop thinking about him, before she let her sanity slip through her fingers. She slowed and stopped, standing placidly beside the stone bench, and turned around, hoping it would be him but -- no, it was a fellow Hufflepuff, and what was better, a girl. She needed advice at the present moment, and would fall to her knees and plead for some if it came around to that. For now, she would appear sane, then reveal she was hardly even at that point. "I think I've seen you around... it's um... Rachael, right?" she resisted a giggle, because the name was close enough to her real name, and she would give the unknown girl the credit for trying to remember such a difficult name. Calmly conjuring a well-worded greeting so she didn't sound entirely like a foreign student, she grinned, showing a row of teeth. "Haha, my name... Rininnia Bridges. I don't blame you for not knowing, and for short, Rinny." she said with a nod, the grin never fading from her face. "I'm Bella," the girl said, and Rinny held out her hand so it would be shook, but she quickly drew it back to her side.

"Bella." Rinny repeated, letting the name sink into her memory. "A beautiful name." she said, pushing a strand of hair from her eyes. It felt awkward, as there was hardly anything to say, so the greeting went downhill from here. The inspiration to ask a few questions seemed decent, as long as she didn't ask too many questions, but to proceed in proper conversation, an interesting topic should engage. What she had in mind, was hardly anything much like a marvel. "Are you... Isabella, as in Isabella Swan?" Well, pretty stupid of her to ask, as the girl's name was Bella, and probably short for Isabella, but she could have considered Is, but the nickname was prone to confuse in a sentence. What other person had the last name Swan? Probably a handful of people in this slaked excitement school, but what really surprised her about Bella -- she was everything Rinny doubted anyone at this school would be, friendly, and kind. Bella was a Hufflepuff, because she had seen her in the common room once or twice, but those evenings, Rinny had been pulled away by a friend to go do something else. Sixth or seventh year, she wasn't sure where the girl stood on the age line.

Rinny stared at her feet, waiting patiently for a response. She was curious what the professors thought of a well-behaved, level-headed girl. Oh, how she was so easily distracted, as she clicked her heels together silently, not much of a click emitting. "Hey, do you know Aleric Villo?" she inquired after much hesitation, wrapping her sweater warmly about her upper torso. It lumped together along the sleeves, and when she made her arms into an X after holding onto both shoulders, the loose sleeves fell to her elbows, the breeze leaving goosebumps rising over her skin, but she pulled up her sleeves so they were not visible. Over asking, and she was doing it now. Could she not be patient for at least one second? Y'know, wait for an answer before letting curiosity grab the better of her? But it was impossible. God, she was impossible. She mentally smacked herself in the forehead, an imaginary sharp pain striking the very place her forehead bulged outward slightly. "I'm sorry," she apologized, and her conscience asked for what reason, with a hoarse tone. "I'm asking too many questions again, aren't I?" she mentally bitch slapped herself. Rinny, why not be a tad more subtle? her conscience asked angrily, frustration unable to be tolerated any longer. No, not anymore. her thoughts answered calmly, in a rising tone.

[bella]

“Rinny,” Bella repeated with a small smile, committing it to memory – that was certainly a lot easier to remember then Rininnia. Upon the comment of her own name, her smile turned sheepish. She was never quite sure what to do with compliments – say “thank you” to every single one? Yeah, because that was so personal and everything. She had almost worked out a well-worded response when instinct reaction kicked in: “Are you…Isabella, as in Isabella Swan?” It’s not her fault Bella, relax – she couldn’t possible know. “Yes, but it’s Bella,” she emphasized, knowing she failed miserably in trying not to sound rude. She had long since used the excuse that it was just habit, something that had been drilled into her since birth. Her mother was the only one to have ever actually addressed her as Isabella – with her mother’s recent death Bella had decided she would never have to hear that name again. Having always loathed her mother, it was a comforting thought – it wasn’t Rinny’s fault that she didn’t know. Bella had done a good job about letting few people know about her mother’s passing, and for the most part, people just knew to call her Bella. Well, now Rinny knew too. She couldn’t get mad at her for simply being uniformed.

For a moment she was considerably fixated on her own name, never trusting herself to speak when she over reacted towards her own name. Naturally, she was grateful and willing to grasp at any distraction form it: “Hey, do you know Aleric Villo?” Bella was pretty sure she knew more of the student body here then half the professors. Immediately she answered “Yeah.” Then her mind caught up with her mouth, understanding that was not only an insignificant answer but one not worth trying to build off of. Slightly backtracking, she continued “I know him, yeah; we’re pretty good friends I guess you could say. Although I haven’t seen him in a while…” Bella added, frowning slightly. She’d always enjoyed his company and now reflecting on it, she couldn’t say she’d seen him in the past few days. Normally Bella would have classified that as an odd occurrence, but she could point the finger at herself for lack of social involvement with the rest of the world lately – any free time and more often then not, it was spent in the presence of Drew and trying to make him pick out a decent tie to wear to the Ball (thus far, it was a seemingly impossible feat).

“I’m sorry, I’m asking too many questions again, aren’t I?” Bella looked up, not aware she’d been staring at the ground until Rinny spoke again. “Oh, no,” she quickly replied, smiling, “Don’t worry about it, I do that all the time too. Trust me, spend enough time around me and not only will you hear a million and a half questions, you’ll realize I ramble a lot too…like now.” Bella blushed slightly, shrugging half heartedly. “I don’t mind…so what about Aleric?” she asked, slightly curious now. She had such a bad tendency to gossip. Granted, maybe this wasn’t exactly “gossip” but whatever information she could get on her peers, she was always willing to listen. “This is probably a silly question, but I don’t imagine you’ve seen him about have you? I was meaning to give him back his textbook…” Uncharacteristically she’d actually managed to forget her Charms book, and luckily having passed Aleric in the halls, borrowed his copy – it was still up in her dorm. Wow, I hope he didn’t have that today… she thought a little too late. Shaking her head slightly, Bella focused more on the present, waiting patiently for whatever Rinny had to say.

[ren]

{I'm extremely sorry for the delay. I was renewing my character on another site. xP Oh, and there's going to be a Ball? -curious- And, the following stinks.}

Rinny nodded at the sound of her name, as her company repeated it as she had done herself. It sounded hopelessly exotic, but if it was, there was a much better chance she would be considered unique, and be further noticed by the miniature civilization that Hogwarts had become. Yeah right, you can stop daydreaming, Rinny. Came the exasperated conscience of the girl, but the beholder of the frustrated thoughts purposefully ignored the annoying, little voice nagging within her mind, and savored the quiet in her skull, her ears aching slightly, but only ever by her quite melodramatic imagination.

"Yes, but it’s Bella,"

Her acquaintance emphasized, her tone sounding slightly rude and annoyed, and it seemed as if Rinny had touched a nerve. She was hesitant to apologize, as many times she did, afraid that if she did, the situation might worsen; and a lightly wounded expression fell across Rinny's face. Her face almost immediately made a change to rosy pink from her tan complexion, and it was noticeable among-st her contrasting features. She was overly sensitive and she simply couldn't handle the humiliation of knowing she had gone wrong in a such a remarkably short moment, and this preferably did not show how tolerant of her weaknesses that she made herself out to be.

"Yeah. I know him, yeah; we’re pretty good friends I guess you could say. Although I haven’t seen him in a while…"

Oh. Her spirits that had momentarily soared so high had been disappointedly dragged to their original level, possibly lower. No sight of Aleric? Hm, now she was beginning to grow worried. She yawned, without entirely meaning to do so, a layer of light exhaustion draped over her suddenly, from lack of sleep and hours on end spent writing long inched essays, and hardly managing her usually surpassable marks. With Bella's remark about her relationship with Aleric, Rinny actually felt rather relieved; she wasn't going mad, after all. But the small relief at her company's words worked barely to cover the larger concern she held for her friend that she had failed to sight over the last weekend or so.

"Oh, no. Don’t worry about it, I do that all the time too. Trust me, spend enough time around me and not only will you hear a million and a half questions, you’ll realize I ramble a lot too…like now."

A weak laugh forcibly came forth at the humorous comment. It was slightly true, but she found it hard to believe for some reason. Rinny had only met Bella, so there had to be evidence of a time that it had happened, although, Rinny would have no other proof but this conversation. Would you please stop confusing me? The angry thought rang throughout her ear drums, louder each time it echoed. There was no reason to argue back and forth with her own self; it would help nothing, and not the confusion that fogged any clear thoughts. "This is probably a silly question, but I don’t imagine you’ve seen him about have you? I was meaning to give him back his textbook…" At these words, more relief soaked her heart, the knots within her stomach unclenched slightly, but not wholly.

"I don’t mind…so what about Aleric?"

Rinny smiled hopefully; finally, she had met someone who would listen to her problem, and possibly, understand. It would be awkward if she told Aleric, even if the two were close friends. But the chance that Bella would understand her position in such a situation was highly unlikely. But anything to have some sort of piece of advice could be easily depicted as necessary all the same. "Do you promise that you won't burst out in laughter, or anything like that?" Rinny asked, foolishness striking her tone as she was hopeful.

[bella]

What to go Bella, she mentally scowled herself, slightly weary by the fallen silence. Rinny seemed aware of it herself, realizing the mistake she made by bringing up Bella’s full name. How shallow are you? Yeesh, it’s not her fault you’re too picky about how people address you. No, it wasn’t Rinny fault – but the irritated side of Bella wanted to make it her fault; Rinny should have just known. Retaliation started up quickly enough though, Known how exactly? Sighing in frustration at herself, Bella attempted an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I forget that not everyone in the world knows I dislike my first name. I jut prefer Bella is all…sorry,” she muttered again. Only a few minutes worth of conversation and she’d managed to let her temper get the better of her. Yeah, that would certainly help her get on Rinny’s good side…suuuure.

At the mention of Aleric, she seemed to lighten up – oh good, I haven’t permanently left an ill mark. Her smiled came easier, but when she’d asked whether or not she’d seen him in a while, Rinny’s figure seemed to slump. Alright, obviously not. Bella let her gaze fall down to her shoes, staring at the blades of grass surrounding them. Absentmindedly she ran a hand through her hair, never able to deal with silences very well. She wanted to nearly cry with joy when Rinny finally decided to break it: “Do you promise that you won’t burst out in laughter, or anything like that?” Bella managed to looked up, picking up on the hesitancy in her tone. Bella had a moment to be flattered she was so easily trusting her with whatever was bothering her, because clearly Rinny had been mulling over something for a while now – her voice had given it away.

Letting herself feel the rising of sympathy, she answered “Certainly. Trust me, I’m not sure anything could surprise me anymore.” Bella laughed slightly, shaking her head. So much had been happening, forcing her mind to accept things for what they were worth on the spot. Whatever had been bugging Rinny, Bella figured she could handle it. Of course, that didn’t spot her form already forming ideas on what it could be. It involved Aleric did it? He had to be included somehow, otherwise how had she come into that thought process? Oh God Bella, relax. Let the poor girl finish. There was no need to get prejudgments about Rinny or what was running through her mind. It needed ended up very well when she let herself do so. She’d had to learn that the hard way.

(RP DISCONTINUED 1/31/08)