Never Enough PV Zyk Finished

@Ileen Knight

It was just a few days before the ball and it wasn't as if Zyk was nervous at all, right? Zyk had finished up his classes for the day and switched into something more comfortable upstairs in his dormitory. There was a moment where he wanted to just sit in his bed and read his advanced charms book that he had checked out from the library, but, he couldn't sit still. Instead, the young Gryffindor decided to snatch up his satchel that contained the objects of his hardy passion. Skipping his way out of the common room and down from the fifth floor of the castle, he made his way out towards the grounds and away from the other students that seemed to be bustling around the courtyard. It wasn't as if it was packed, not with this cold breeze blowing so briskly, but, he still didn't want to be around anyone at the time.

The clunks from his satchel made it appear he was carrying a lot of something heavy, instead, it was something that wasn't as heavy as it appeared and it had traveled with him all the way back to Hogwarts from Dublin. Shifting the satchel to his front as he walked out towards the open grounds, he unbuckled it and took out a sharp curved carving knife and a half-shaved down block of Irish oak wood. Adjusting his satchel along his back once more, he wandered aimlessly out among the grounds, those concentrated golden eyes staring down at the carvings he started to make as he walked. One thing that Zykeal hated about Hogwarts was the charms that prevented electronic objects from working, how he would have loved to have an iPod right now to go along with his rhythmic progress of etchings.

Forming the long cylindrical shape of a wand was a slow task, meticulous, perfect for the boy not to focus on the dance with the girl who couldn't stay out of his mind for a minute previous to this. Hell, he couldn't even concentrate on his charms class and was yelled at earlier in the day. Complete concentration, how peaceful, he would of thought until a faint voice of a girl nearby nearly startled him and caused his eyes to dart up and stare in the direction of where a goal post was located. Zykeal froze, his carving knife in the middle of a stroke, a step half made as he stared straight towards the one who seemed to be speaking to herself. How the hell did he manage to make it out onto the quidditch pitch? Zykeal hated the sport and detested the need for brooms for flying. What a waste of wood that could have been better suited for wand crafting.

There was enough light for his inspection of the individual in front of him to be revealed though and he didn't know what to think for a moment. Ileen, Deallas' best friend. A girl he spent time within the tent over the summer and started to know just a tad bit. Should he be intruding on her current conversation with herself though? Zykeal didn't know at first. Hell, even though he did his best to act as mature as possible, in some situations, he still couldn't help but act like a 12-year-old. Now though, he felt cautious, but, inquisitive because he didn't want to just turn around and walk away from the girl before him. A sigh escaped from him at the dilemma ahead of him and he took a moment to straighten himself out of his frozen appearance.

Despite what was probably best for his health, he continued his walking in the direction of Ileen and peered back down at the wood that he was carving, and continued the activity. It was probably best that she didn't think that he was spying on her, as if he would, but, one could see it that way if they didn't know better. Keeping his eyes down on his crafting, he stopped just a few feet away from the Slytherin girl and decided to speak up without looking up, "Ileen, if your wand has a bad grip, maybe I could help shape that for you," he offered, having no idea what she was talking about but it was what went through his mind at the moment. After all, he was crafting his own faux-wand at the time.

Ileen was so lost in her dark thoughts that she didn’t realize she wasn’t alone anymore. Accordingly, she was startled when the gryffindor appeared next to her as if spawned from the ground and spoke to her. The young girl flinched, hit her head on the post against which she had just leaned her forehead as a result. “Ouch!” With narrowed eyes and her heart pounding, she hopped away from the Quidditch goal and held her head where the pain was throbbing warmly. Great. That certainly hadn’t looked ridiculous at all...
Agitated and with flushed cheeks, she turned to her unexpected company and frowned when she recognized Zykeal. Confused, Ileen tilted her head, her hand still pressed against her throbbing forehead, so she could only see the Gryffindor with one eye. What was he doing here? Granted, she was never here herself, so maybe it was just one of his favorite places? Even if she didn't think he was a Quidditch fan... Anyway, his timing was excellent - or, if you asked Ileen, terrible.
The shock and her confusion resulted in the fact that it still took her a short while to process his words and be able to find a witty answer to them, and even that rather unsuccessfully. “My wand? What?” She blushed even more and shook her head to get rid of this feeling. “Uhm. No. I meant in general… Things are crazy at the moment… Wait - you can work with wands?” She interrupted her thoughts somewhat baffled, distracted by this information that she had missed completely at first.

Finally she let her hand sink, although her head still hurt, and looked at the boy with alert eyes. Although she had spent the summer with him in a tent, she didn't know much about him except that there was an eternal back and forth between him and her best friend. Oh no, he had invited Dee to the ball, which definitely gave him a few plus points, a Dee bonus, so to speak. She didn't feel uncomfortable in his presence either - in fact, she had wanted to talk to him for a while, but it just hadn't worked out yet.
And now she unexpectedly faced him here, her arms a little lost hanging at her sides. Quickly, she crossed them and gave him a slight smile. "What are you doing here? Not flying, are you?" At least, he hadn’t brought a broom...

@Zykeal Lane

@Ileen Knight

Although he might have better suited into a world where he was born from the Greek God Hades and could spawn from the shadows of the Earth, unfortunately, he was just a wizard. Holding his facial expression blank as the girl thwacked her own forehead against the pole in surprise, even though he wanted to laugh, he kept himself composed. She tilted her head to the side, Ileen, and Zykeal would mimic her action as he cocked his own head to match her. A little smile twitched out from the edge of his mouth and he couldn't help but to speak up once more, "Do you need a band-aide?" he teased, those golden irises settling upon the girls own eyes as he watched her for a moment.

After a moment the girl seemed to come to her wits though and was able to respond to his original question which startled her, he smiled once more as he adjusted his head to the normal position and offered a slight shrug, "Haven't tried a real one yet, but-" he offered. Looking down at the carving tool and piece of wood he held within his hands, he lifted them up and out a little to show her what he was working on at the time, "I've-" he halted, as she went on to offer more information than he expected her to. Pulling back his things closer to his chest, he rolled his shoulder and allowed his satchel to come to rest upon his front side.

As he listened to Ileen, he stowed away his crafting materials and buckled his satchel. When she paused in her words, he looked up and gave an almost sympathetic look to the girl as he pushed his satchel back to his side and leaned to the side as she asked if he worked with wands, "not real ones... yet," he confirmed. Another slight shrug of the shoulders was offered and he looked around the quidditch pitch for a moment, noting how fast the sun was fading from the area and wondered why Ileen was even here. It seemed she had the same inquiry for him and before he could have said anything, she questioned him first.

"Just takin' my mind off things," he confirmed.

Off his eyes drifted then, peering over towards the goal post that she had banged her head against and letting his gaze drift up the tall towering poll that had hoops attached to the top, "I'm not a fan of brooms, they're not very comfortable to ride on," and he noted, "still can't believe the folklore about witches from the muggles are true in some ways," and he smirked as his gaze shifted back to Ileen, "Ridiculous, in my opinion," he added a little nod to the conclusion of his assessment. Giving Ileen another once-over, he found her in poor shape, not physically, but, clearly, something was wrong in that mind of hers and he was curious.

Zykeal wasn't one to give up so much information upfront, even his mother had to pry to get more than a few words out of him most of the time. It wasn't as if he wasn't social, but, scenarios like this one tended to be confronted with knowing when to speak and when not to. Regardless, he'd inquire into her own reasons why she was there as well, "What's with ya'?" the Irish accent showing, "Clearly something's wrong," he said. Noting, beyond the obvious head injury, she seemed flustered and not very happy at the moment. One thing that did strike him as odd as well was that she wasn't with her best friend, Dealla, and that seemed rather odd to him.

Ileen made a face at Zyk and reflexively raised a hand to touch the painfully throbbing spot on her forehead. “Uhm. No, thanks. I’m good.” She waved it off, her cheeks still burning in embarrassment. Unlike Dee, she was not clumsy, but whenever something happened, she had to have witnesses, of course! Frustrated, she wrinkled her nose but was immediately distracted when she realized what the Gryffindor was carrying. “Oh, nice. You carve? I didn’t know that.”
Of course, she hadn't known that, how could she? Her dark brown eyes curiously glanced at the tools that the boy had already put away. The art of wandmaking had also interested her, even if it was not her vocation. She found it fascinating how wood and core interacted and which characters came together. It was also an art that created things, not destroyed them. The girl assumed that you had to be very sensitive for this job, so she hadn't really expected to find someone at this school who wanted to deal with it. “Do you want to become a wandmaker?”

With her counterquestions, she was actually trying to dodge his question about how she had ended up out here, but it felt good to talk to someone, anyway, so she shrugged and took a deep breath. She tilted her head back and looked up at the Quidditch goal – it was the one on which she had hit her head. “I hear you. Taking my mind off things is exactly what I am trying to do, too.” An indignant snort escaped her and she turned her head slightly to look at him. Her eyes narrowed to half-moons and the corner of her right mouth curled into a sarcastic half smile. “Well, I am not a big fan of Quidditch, but I like flying.” She took a step back and buried her hands deeper in the pockets of her jacket. “I guess it’s mainly the fact that you are far away from the ground. Everything… is clearer from above. When I need to clear my head I always look for high places.”

This openness was not typical for her, but it was probably due to the situation. He could do with it what he wanted. However, she didn't want him to ask any follow-up questions since she for sure wasn’t ready to share her secret fear with anyone yet, so she hurried to bring up a new topic. “Speaking of high places and taking the mind of things… Nah, I’m good.” She took a sidewards step towards the damn Quidditch pole, placed a hand on it and gave the boy a mischievous grin. She felt the cold of the metal rise up through her palm and into her arm, but she didn't pull it away. In fact, she had already toyed with the idea of doing what she was about to suggest. “What do you think? I bet we would have an amazing view from up there. We could climb it and then you can tell me more about carving if you want. Or what else bothers you.”

She didn't care if he thought she was weird because she suggested something crazy like that. And now that she had suggested it, she was determined to try it. Even though she was a bit out of practice, she was a skilled climber. Full of enthusiasm she turned back to the metal pole and measured it with her gaze. It was probably possible to climb it like a pipe, even if it was quite high. "Well, I'll certainly try. Maybe you can have your wand ready, just in case? You Gryffindors like to feel like heroes, don't you?"
She gave him a big smile before she wrapped her arms and legs around the pole and began to crawl up like a predator. Today she strangely didn't care about anything. The main thing was that she could distract herself from her fear. Carefully, she pushed herself up inch by inch and looked down now and then to check if Zykeal was there and if he was really ready to cast a spell.

Although the first few feet were a piece of cake, the cold soon entered her body, which was completely pressed against the icy surface. With her teeth clenched, she clung to the pole, her eyebrows tightly pulled together and not willing to give up. Her excellent technique actually allowed her to go further than expected, but she could not ignore the leaden heaviness in her arms for long. She was simply not in good shape anymore. And then suddenly, when the goal was within reach, she lost her strength with one blow.
She felt her fingers slipping and she slowly slid back again – even worse. Her arms began to tremble and she realized that she would soon lose her grip completely. Her brown eyes widened in fear and her heart made a leap. "Uhm, Zykeal? I hope you are still there. I'm about to fall." And she lost her footing.

Ileen climbing attempt
Height of the goal: 49,1 feet
Climbing DC: Acc (technique) + Strength > 29

Acc Check : [d20: 18] + 9 = 27
Strength Check: [d20: 1] + 3 = 4 --> crit fail Rip

@Ileen Knight

She seemed flustered when she waved off his offer of a band-aide, not like he had one, it was just meant to be a subtle jest regardless. Ileen seemed odd at the moment and a little disheveled, unsure, and he couldn't help but take a small step forward to bridge the gap between the two second-years. After he had stowed his things, she commented on what she had seen and he was slightly disappointed in himself that she caught up to what he actually meant by the wand comment and what was in his hands. Zykeal didn't offer much of himself to people, they often let him down, this was one of the reasons he was out this night and walking; he was worried it'd happen again the next night.

Maybe he should have been excited to share with someone else about his passion for woodworking and his ambitions to become a wandmaker in the future, maybe they'd accept that and think of it as a worthy vocation; he didn't think so. So many students had ambitions to be the next headmaster or head of house at the school; not to mention those bloody political hacks. Those golden eyes finally broke from staring directly at her and he looked down towards the ground at their feet, "Yeah, maybe," he commented softly, almost embarrassed, worried that truths would get back to her best friend Dealla who he'd be taking out the next night over. A slight shrug accompanied his words, "I-" he began to speak more, but, halted himself as he felt slightly uncomfortable for a moment as he didn't want to just start opening up his life to this girl.

The explanation of her out as he was made sense to him, truly, it didn't require a second thought of his to understand why someone would need to get out of that forsaken castle that never ceased to turn for the worse every moment of the day. The sheer amount of trepidation the student body held at the castle set everyone on edge, constant fear, the staff just couldn't get a grip and provide a normal life for the average student. This train of thought was what was on his mind until the girl interjected with an interesting inquiry, "A view from up there?" he responded quickly, eyes shifting up the goal post and staring for a moment, wondering. Before he could respond to her comment upon Gryffindors being 'heroic' and whatnot, himself a tad bit more selfish and reserved than your average bravado boasting dolt, she was already heading up the pole and edging herself up foot-by-foot.

That wand of his, the aspen wood ivory-colored obsession of his was taken out from the waistband of the pure black joggers that he was wearing. Those golden irises followed each and every movement that the girl made, she moved well. Zykeal couldn't help but let a small smirk play across his features as the wand begun to rotate through the fingers of his hand, the tic, his constant need to keep something in motion. As he watched the girl above, he admired her, not knowing what she was thinking or if she was even thinking; he wished he could not think for a few moments. On watch was his current task placed upon him though, he didn't feel obligated though. Ileen had just placed the responsibility upon him and for some reason or another, he accepted.

It took a little while of him watching and her climbing to see that this wasn't the smartest idea, her strength was ebbing quite quickly and the boy went through a list of spells within that head of his that would be helpful in a situation like this. Two stuck out, only one the correct choice. Zykeal heard a faint call of his name, it wasn't a yell and at the height, she was at it was hard to hear anything at all over the quick winds of the Scottish Highlands; even if it was dampened by the quidditch arena. Time seemed to slow as he watched as her strength finally gave and the girl lost her grip upon the pole.

She fell.

The rotation of his wand through his fingers halted immediately, the hilt smacking with a thump into the palm of his hand as his fingers wrapped around it. The good old professor's repetition of 'swish and flick' came to mind and his wand drew the movement as the endpoint he traced settled upon the falling girl, "Wingardium Leviosa," he called out. This noise would have been obviously muffled by wind and distance from the girl's ears, but, he knew that once his spell connected that she'd at least feel some sort of comfort that she was safe from harm.

Zykeal watched as the invisible spell was cast, no light came from his wand so he was worried about the accuracy of his spellcasting for a moment. Fortunately, his dedication to his charm-work seemed to pay off in this instance and as she came rushing down towards him and the ground below, his spell took effect just a few feet above him. Moving forward to position himself underneath the girl, he danced his wand in the open air as he lowered her down, making sure that if his spell effect faded that at least he might be able to catch her and save her from injury. The thought was just precautionary though as he let his wand dance until Ileen came to where he could reach out his arms and scoop the girl up into them.

There wasn't thought of just letting his spell guide her to the ground below, it just didn't seem right. When he was growing up, he was often chided by his mother on propper manners and he didn't feel this was a time to neglect them. The look on the girl's face was obviously somewhat frightened and he at least wanted to comfort someone that he knew with a little reassurance that someone was there looking after them. As he held her in his open arms, scooped, he couldn't help but pull a devilish smile across his face as he looked down to the Slytherin, "Oh, nice of you to drop in," he humored her.

Wis DC check = 10/9 - Pass | Accuracy = 12/10 - Pass | Spell Power = 27

Ileen’s heart skipped a beat as she lost her grip and fell. For one moment it was like time had stopped. One second she felt weightless, the next gravity tore down mercilessly. Although she had known that it was a difficult task, she had not thought that she would actually fall.

She didn't really have time to panic though. Zyk had paid attention and his spell caught her after a few inches. Too shocked to be relieved, embarrassed, or even grateful, she was lowered to the ground. Her heart was pounding and her hands slightly shaking as she tried to peek over her shoulder. What was he doing? Why hadn’t he lifted her up the last few inches so she could safely climb the goal? Was he… trying to catch her? Like… literally?
And as she realized how this would end, a new kind of panic rose in her. Ileen was not the type of girl who easily trusted other people and she prefered emotional and physical distance. She began to fight the spell, ready to fall to the ground rather than land in his arms, but without success. So, she dropped into his arms.

For one weird second she was staring at him before jumping back to the ground and taking two quick steps backwards to create some distance between them. “I... What…” That was awkward. Even though it had been an act to help her… It took Ileen forever to accept and give hugs from people and this situation kind of overwhelmed her. He had crossed a line - the young girl stared at the Gryffindor. "Thank you. I gotta go." With that she turned on her heel and stormed off back to the castle.

@Zykeal Lane

Ileen leaves the thread

@Ileen Knight

How often ones kind actions towards another were misconstrued with their own personal feelings, or even, feelings of others in that moment. When he cast his spell that lowered the girl into his own arms, it was only to prevent her from receiving any obvious injuries from her falling from a deadly height. Instead, his actions were seen from a different perspective; this was the obvious conclusion to those of those who couldn't see beyond the rational of what was real and what was not.

Zykeal did only what was right and was therefore being judged by what was right before their eyes, he had promptly saved the girl in danger and was rewarded with such; a swift retort and prompt 'goodbye'. This was seemingly a foreshadowing of the future endeavors of the friend group that seemed to like to make obvious prejudgements upon people based on their just actions. This would make no difference to the boy as he shifted the girl out of his arms and watch her walk away from the situation with an awkward and resentful parting.

"Trash will always be trash," he remarked as he watched the girl leave. Nothing will always be nothing, there was no reason to think otherwise. Without hesitation, he smiled to himself and shifted his bag back towards the front of him once again to retrieve the piece of Irish-oak wood and the carving knife that he had once had before he had wasted his time upon someone else. Unfortunately, this wouldn't be the last time he tried to make peace with the girl that he had just met, but, he'd make sure to note that in the future to play the game that she'd play. No more would he save a falling banshee from the depths of despair.

Zykeal leaves the thread, smiling.