23 May 2020, 21:49
Here to Learn
Late May 2020
When Aaron entered the Great Hall, he was surprised by all the supplies that had been set up for this origami errand. All the tables were lined with paper and folding instructions, and there were several students already hard at work. A lot of them were in groups of friends, chatting as they folded the paper. A few people were working by themselves, wanting to concentrate and get their folding done right.
Today, Aaron was going to be one of the loners, as he had been for most of the month of May. He chose the corner of a table that was farthest from the entrance, hoping to be less noticeable this way. As he looked at the sets of instructions, his eyes were drawn to the badger. All the house animals were represented: a badger, a snake, a raven and a lion. If this were before the Blossom Ball, Aaron would've made a thousand badgers. As it was, Aaron wasn't feeling very Hufflepuffy.
The twelve-year-old had been choosing to be alone for weeks now (even limiting his interaction with his best friends). Ever since the disaster that was the Secret Blossom Ball, he felt an intense amount of guilt and shame. Pericles had been right to warn them about the dangers of going against the professors. They thought that providing an escape route would be enough, not considering that some people would panic and forget all about the brooms. The image of a girl and a guy burning alive at the ball was seared into his mind, even though he had only seen them for a moment. And those ugly mosps had been haunting his dreams every other night or so.
The whole reason Aaron was even doing this errand was for the house points. It was a bid to show his peers and professors that he wasn't going to mess up anymore. That he was here to learn, play Quidditch and support his house - no more funny business. But he still didn't feel good enough to be creating his house emblem, so his hand gravitated to the directions for the dragon. Dragons didn't need a broom to fly, and they certainly didn't have to worry about keeping their dragon friends safe. Their fire breathing was probably enough to ward off stupid vampyr mosps.
Aaron's tongue stuck out of his lips slightly as he began to fold. His eyebrows furrowed in concentration. The instructions were straightforward, but he was sure he would mess up somewhere, so he was trying extra hard to concentrate.
@Maria DeeWord Count: 424/800
Original Origami errand
Last edited by Aaron Jones on 5 Jun 2020, 18:54, edited 1 time in total.
PC: Aaron Jones | iNPC: Madeleine Nakamura | Former staff account: Marcus Iwasaki
2nd Gen PC: Idalia della Torre
Best way to contact me? Discord or owl Idalia
24 May 2020, 06:03
Here to Learn
This day found Maria walking along the corridors of the castle. She was on her way to the Great Hall to do an errand, which today involved origami. It seemed like a good way to “celebrate” having full use of her hands after they fully healed after being burned when her spell went wrong.
A wince flashed on her face as the image of the incident came back, along with the memory of burnt flesh. Hufflepuffs and fires just do not mix, if the past few months proved anything. Still, she decided she was better off than the people who were set on fire.
The young badger shook herself out of her thoughts, deciding that it would be best not to think about such things now. She approached her destination and saw rows of papers on the table along with other implements used for the ancient art of paper folding. There were also instructions available for a few animals, one representing each house along with a dragon, a unicorn and a… giraffe? Maria couldn’t help but be amused at the random animal thrown into the mix. From what she could see some of these were a little harder, but the young girl’s previous experience of doing origami on days in with her parents gave her enough confidence to try. It actually calmed her, being able to think and concentrate on the motions of folding while creating something out of just a piece of paper.
Eventually, she decided on a badger, mostly because she wanted a challenge, and partly because of House loyalty. Grabbing some yellow paper and a marker, she scanned the room for a place to sit. There were several students around, some of them in groups, other in pairs, others alone. Just like the boy she spotted sitting in a far corner of the room. A squint and a shuffle closer helped her identify the boy as Aaron Jones, her friend that shared her love for kimchi and passionately enjoyed Yoohoo. He seemed gloomier than usual, totally unlike his demeanor towards her at the ball.
The ball, right. It had been him and several other students that had out it together, and to be blunt, it ended in a total disaster. Poor kid must be devastated. Maria contemplated sitting with him while she did the errand, at the very least to show him that she was there for him. But would it do any good? Would he event want her presence? Maria decided there was no harm in trying. He was a fellow badger, and if they were anything, Huffles were loyal to their friends. Maybe he didn’t make the best decisions at the time, but he didn’t deserve to be exiled because of it. Put in detention, maybe, but definitely not shunned by his own people.
Taking her things, Maria made her way to where Aaron sat and slid next to him on the bench.
“Hey there, mind if I join you?”
A wince flashed on her face as the image of the incident came back, along with the memory of burnt flesh. Hufflepuffs and fires just do not mix, if the past few months proved anything. Still, she decided she was better off than the people who were set on fire.
The young badger shook herself out of her thoughts, deciding that it would be best not to think about such things now. She approached her destination and saw rows of papers on the table along with other implements used for the ancient art of paper folding. There were also instructions available for a few animals, one representing each house along with a dragon, a unicorn and a… giraffe? Maria couldn’t help but be amused at the random animal thrown into the mix. From what she could see some of these were a little harder, but the young girl’s previous experience of doing origami on days in with her parents gave her enough confidence to try. It actually calmed her, being able to think and concentrate on the motions of folding while creating something out of just a piece of paper.
Eventually, she decided on a badger, mostly because she wanted a challenge, and partly because of House loyalty. Grabbing some yellow paper and a marker, she scanned the room for a place to sit. There were several students around, some of them in groups, other in pairs, others alone. Just like the boy she spotted sitting in a far corner of the room. A squint and a shuffle closer helped her identify the boy as Aaron Jones, her friend that shared her love for kimchi and passionately enjoyed Yoohoo. He seemed gloomier than usual, totally unlike his demeanor towards her at the ball.
The ball, right. It had been him and several other students that had out it together, and to be blunt, it ended in a total disaster. Poor kid must be devastated. Maria contemplated sitting with him while she did the errand, at the very least to show him that she was there for him. But would it do any good? Would he event want her presence? Maria decided there was no harm in trying. He was a fellow badger, and if they were anything, Huffles were loyal to their friends. Maybe he didn’t make the best decisions at the time, but he didn’t deserve to be exiled because of it. Put in detention, maybe, but definitely not shunned by his own people.
Taking her things, Maria made her way to where Aaron sat and slid next to him on the bench.
“Hey there, mind if I join you?”
@Aaron JonesWord Count: 495/800 Words
Tryna solve a problem like Maria.
Stats:Stamina 8||Evasion 7||Strength 5 || Wisdom 8 || Arcane Power 8 ||| Accuracy 9
24 May 2020, 15:47
Here to Learn
It didn't take long for Aaron to realize that he had chosen one of the most difficult origami creatures available. Why had he done this to himself? He could hardly get through the first page of instructions! He thought the dragon would be fun to make, not difficult. Why was origami so hard? He'd seen his six-year-old sister make paper cranes tons of times!
The dark-haired boy was so deep in concentration that Maria's words startled him enough to rip the paper he had been trying to fold. Oops. Aaron raised his eyes, and the sight of his friend instinctively put a big smile on his face.
"Hey, Maria," he greeted, trying to draw attention away from his pitiful attempt at origami. He would need to start over now that he had ripped his paper clean through. He gestured to the seat across from him, indicating she could sit down. As she did, though, his expression dropped a little. Thinking back, he had heard that Maria had been one of those who needed to go to the Hospital Wing following the ball. Aaron didn't know the details, since he really hadn't talked to her since then, but he hoped she hadn't been traumatized like some other kids he'd heard about.
"So, what'd you decide to make?" Aaron asked, now avoiding eye contact. He reached for a new paper and tried to return to folding. Now that Maria was here, he felt extra distracted. Should he have rejected her offer to sit with him? Well, of course not. She was his friend - well, hopefully still his friend. He'd been ignoring her just as much as the rest of Hufflepuff house, though he wondered if she had even noticed.
"This dragon is really giving me a run for my money," he joked lamely, not entirely sure if that was the right expression to use. He'd heard his father use those words before.
The dark-haired boy was so deep in concentration that Maria's words startled him enough to rip the paper he had been trying to fold. Oops. Aaron raised his eyes, and the sight of his friend instinctively put a big smile on his face.
"Hey, Maria," he greeted, trying to draw attention away from his pitiful attempt at origami. He would need to start over now that he had ripped his paper clean through. He gestured to the seat across from him, indicating she could sit down. As she did, though, his expression dropped a little. Thinking back, he had heard that Maria had been one of those who needed to go to the Hospital Wing following the ball. Aaron didn't know the details, since he really hadn't talked to her since then, but he hoped she hadn't been traumatized like some other kids he'd heard about.
"So, what'd you decide to make?" Aaron asked, now avoiding eye contact. He reached for a new paper and tried to return to folding. Now that Maria was here, he felt extra distracted. Should he have rejected her offer to sit with him? Well, of course not. She was his friend - well, hopefully still his friend. He'd been ignoring her just as much as the rest of Hufflepuff house, though he wondered if she had even noticed.
"This dragon is really giving me a run for my money," he joked lamely, not entirely sure if that was the right expression to use. He'd heard his father use those words before.
@Maria DeeWord Count: 424 + 320 = 744/800
PC: Aaron Jones | iNPC: Madeleine Nakamura | Former staff account: Marcus Iwasaki
2nd Gen PC: Idalia della Torre
Best way to contact me? Discord or owl Idalia
25 May 2020, 12:01
Here to Learn
Upon hearing the paper rip, and seeing Aaron snap out of his reverie, Maria was starting to wonder if this was a good idea. Maybe he just wanted to be alone. She half expected him to shoo her away, but his big smile and his invitation for her to sit proved her wrong. Maybe he did want a friend around after all.
“Hey yourself.” The girl greeted as she took her seat across him. “I’m sorry if I startled you, I didn’t think origami would make you so jumpy.” She joked lightly, sending a warm smile in his direction. He asked her what she was going to make, but his eyes refused to meet hers. It made her heart ache to see her usually upbeat friend so down, but she didn’t remark on it. Instead, she placed her paper and other paraphernalia on the table, she started making the creases as the instructions dictated. She hoped that if she acted relaxed enough she could get him to open up, but in the mean time, maybe just getting him to actually talk would help.
“Oh, I’m making a badger today. Predictable, I know, but the others looked a little too easy for my taste. Besides, I haven’t learned this one yet. Looks manageable though.” Maria rattled on, her hands and eyes moving in sync between folding and looking at the instructions. While she was naturally clumsy, she always took pride in her origami skills, her hands working fast and methodically.
“Eh, don’ feel too bad, the dragon is pretty tricky.” She laughed as she continued to fold and crease her own paper creation.
“But I bet it’s going to… turn out… great.” It was a struggle to keep up a conversation and origami at the same time, but Maria thought that her housemate might need a little light conversation, if not to cheer him up, then maybe just to take his mind off his worries for a little while. “And if it doesn’t, you can always say it’s abstract art.” She joked.
“Hey yourself.” The girl greeted as she took her seat across him. “I’m sorry if I startled you, I didn’t think origami would make you so jumpy.” She joked lightly, sending a warm smile in his direction. He asked her what she was going to make, but his eyes refused to meet hers. It made her heart ache to see her usually upbeat friend so down, but she didn’t remark on it. Instead, she placed her paper and other paraphernalia on the table, she started making the creases as the instructions dictated. She hoped that if she acted relaxed enough she could get him to open up, but in the mean time, maybe just getting him to actually talk would help.
“Oh, I’m making a badger today. Predictable, I know, but the others looked a little too easy for my taste. Besides, I haven’t learned this one yet. Looks manageable though.” Maria rattled on, her hands and eyes moving in sync between folding and looking at the instructions. While she was naturally clumsy, she always took pride in her origami skills, her hands working fast and methodically.
“Eh, don’ feel too bad, the dragon is pretty tricky.” She laughed as she continued to fold and crease her own paper creation.
“But I bet it’s going to… turn out… great.” It was a struggle to keep up a conversation and origami at the same time, but Maria thought that her housemate might need a little light conversation, if not to cheer him up, then maybe just to take his mind off his worries for a little while. “And if it doesn’t, you can always say it’s abstract art.” She joked.
@Aaron JonesWord Count:495+341 = 836/800
Tryna solve a problem like Maria.
Stats:Stamina 8||Evasion 7||Strength 5 || Wisdom 8 || Arcane Power 8 ||| Accuracy 9
27 May 2020, 16:11
Here to Learn
"No worries, bud! I guess I just wasn't expecting anyone to show up and I got too focused on the craft," he said with a shrug, still not meeting Maria's eyes. He had gone back to folding at this point, and noticed she was doing the same.
Aaron quirked an eyebrow and lifted his eyes when she mentioned the others looked a little too easy. Too easy? Of course Maria was some sort of origami prodigy while he was over here struggling to fold a piece of paper in half. He shook his head slightly, grinning at the irony as he went back to work. She commented on how hard the dragon was, and he nodded in agreement, "I should've known the coolest one would be the hardest."
Maria was focusing on her own creation as well, and Aaron relaxed back into the folding process. He got through the first two pages of instruction and started to struggle again when Maria commented about abstract art. He grinned and then couldn't hold back a laugh. His origami really did look abstract! He held it up for her to see, not even realizing that he was making eye contact again. In reality, it was hard for Aaron to actively be mopey. He was only able to do it when he wasn't around friends, which is a big reason he had been distancing himself.
"This is about as abstract as you can get," Aaron laughed, showing off the only half-finished dragon. It lacked a decent shape and detail, but if you looked at it in the right angle, you could probably tell if was a reptile of sorts. Especially given the green paper he had chosen.
"Wanna hear something funny? One of the first people I ever met who was magic convinced me that we'd have to face off against a dragon to get sorted into our houses," he told Maria, grinning at the silly memory. "I was so relieved when I found out it was just a magic hat!"
Aaron quirked an eyebrow and lifted his eyes when she mentioned the others looked a little too easy. Too easy? Of course Maria was some sort of origami prodigy while he was over here struggling to fold a piece of paper in half. He shook his head slightly, grinning at the irony as he went back to work. She commented on how hard the dragon was, and he nodded in agreement, "I should've known the coolest one would be the hardest."
Maria was focusing on her own creation as well, and Aaron relaxed back into the folding process. He got through the first two pages of instruction and started to struggle again when Maria commented about abstract art. He grinned and then couldn't hold back a laugh. His origami really did look abstract! He held it up for her to see, not even realizing that he was making eye contact again. In reality, it was hard for Aaron to actively be mopey. He was only able to do it when he wasn't around friends, which is a big reason he had been distancing himself.
"This is about as abstract as you can get," Aaron laughed, showing off the only half-finished dragon. It lacked a decent shape and detail, but if you looked at it in the right angle, you could probably tell if was a reptile of sorts. Especially given the green paper he had chosen.
"Wanna hear something funny? One of the first people I ever met who was magic convinced me that we'd have to face off against a dragon to get sorted into our houses," he told Maria, grinning at the silly memory. "I was so relieved when I found out it was just a magic hat!"
@Maria DeeWord Count: 424 + 320 + 337 = 1081/800
PC: Aaron Jones | iNPC: Madeleine Nakamura | Former staff account: Marcus Iwasaki
2nd Gen PC: Idalia della Torre
Best way to contact me? Discord or owl Idalia
29 May 2020, 12:56
Here to Learn
It was a relief to her that he wasn’t put off by her presence, but she also doubted that origami was the only thing on the boy’s mind. But again, they didn’t have to talk about that. He seemed a little more relaxed at the moment, talking a little more freely than when she had approached.
“I get that, my parents used to leave me alone for hours when I would get into it. I barely noticed whenever they left.” She symphathized.
As they continued to fold Maria took a few confused retakes at the instructions provided. Her little badger was harder than she anticipated. It wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle though. Undoing the last few steps she had done she paused and pursed her lips at the instructions before continuing.
“Mm, well,I’m pretty sure it’s nothing you can’t handle.” Her words were once again said through brief pauses, half of her attention focused on her own origami. The yellow badger was almost complete, all she had to do was figure out the last few steps. Once again, her paper friend wasn’t looking right, so she had to make a few re-folds again. She smiled and looked up when she heard laughter, her companion holding up his creation, which to her wasn’t too bad. Sure, the half-done reptile wasn’t exactly looking great at the moment, but Maria believed in not judging until you saw the final product. Though she could tell this green dragon was going down the abstract route.
“Yeah, that is definitely is a little more on the abstract lane.” She teased lightly.
“But hey, the Slytherin green looks good, and maybe it’ll turn out better than you expected it to be.” The ability to encourage was a forte the badger girl embraced. From what she could tell, it was helping her cheer her friend up. He even shared about himself a bit more. She couldn’t help but give a hearty laugh hearing his experience.
“What? Who told you that? I mean, a dragon would have been more interesting than that ratty old hat but I don’t think there’d many of us left at that rate.”
@Aaron Jones
“I get that, my parents used to leave me alone for hours when I would get into it. I barely noticed whenever they left.” She symphathized.
As they continued to fold Maria took a few confused retakes at the instructions provided. Her little badger was harder than she anticipated. It wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle though. Undoing the last few steps she had done she paused and pursed her lips at the instructions before continuing.
“Mm, well,I’m pretty sure it’s nothing you can’t handle.” Her words were once again said through brief pauses, half of her attention focused on her own origami. The yellow badger was almost complete, all she had to do was figure out the last few steps. Once again, her paper friend wasn’t looking right, so she had to make a few re-folds again. She smiled and looked up when she heard laughter, her companion holding up his creation, which to her wasn’t too bad. Sure, the half-done reptile wasn’t exactly looking great at the moment, but Maria believed in not judging until you saw the final product. Though she could tell this green dragon was going down the abstract route.
“Yeah, that is definitely is a little more on the abstract lane.” She teased lightly.
“But hey, the Slytherin green looks good, and maybe it’ll turn out better than you expected it to be.” The ability to encourage was a forte the badger girl embraced. From what she could tell, it was helping her cheer her friend up. He even shared about himself a bit more. She couldn’t help but give a hearty laugh hearing his experience.
“What? Who told you that? I mean, a dragon would have been more interesting than that ratty old hat but I don’t think there’d many of us left at that rate.”
Word Count:495+341+358 = 1194/800
@Aaron Jones
Tryna solve a problem like Maria.
Stats:Stamina 8||Evasion 7||Strength 5 || Wisdom 8 || Arcane Power 8 ||| Accuracy 9
3 Jun 2020, 00:48
Here to Learn
"Did they leave you alone often?" he wondered. Aaron always had his siblings to keep him company, but he knew that Maria was an only child. He never really understood his friends that were only children, considering he had come into the world with a twin brother.
"Yeah, I'm certainly trying," Aaron nodded, offering a tiny grin at her words of encouragement. For a moment after he showed off his "abstract" art, things were quiet between them. They worked on their respective origami figures, each consulting their papers consistently. Aaron was actually motivated by Maria's presence, actually wanting to do a good job now.
"It was a girl named Ariana. Ariana Walker? She's a fellow first year on the Gryffindor Quidditch team," he explained, looking up at Maria as he spoke. He wanted to know if she recognized the name. With a smile, he continued, "I met her at the Quidditch shop in Diagon Alley before school started. I forget how the conversation turned to dragons, but she definitely implied we'd have to fight one!" Aaron laughed at the memory before gluing his eyes back to his work.
The first year felt like he was finally getting somewhere, and the paper was taking a more defined shape now. Maybe it could pass as a dragon now? Just, without a tail and legs and arms? None of the details were defined, but he felt like this might be the best he could do.
A glance around the hall revealed others getting their origami charmed by the house elves. Aaron's eyes lit up slightly at the idea of his lizard-dragon-thing breathing a little fire. He turned back to Maria now, a smile gracing his face again. "Wanna get them charmed? Maybe we can make them fight against each other!" His imagination was running a little wild.
"Yeah, I'm certainly trying," Aaron nodded, offering a tiny grin at her words of encouragement. For a moment after he showed off his "abstract" art, things were quiet between them. They worked on their respective origami figures, each consulting their papers consistently. Aaron was actually motivated by Maria's presence, actually wanting to do a good job now.
"It was a girl named Ariana. Ariana Walker? She's a fellow first year on the Gryffindor Quidditch team," he explained, looking up at Maria as he spoke. He wanted to know if she recognized the name. With a smile, he continued, "I met her at the Quidditch shop in Diagon Alley before school started. I forget how the conversation turned to dragons, but she definitely implied we'd have to fight one!" Aaron laughed at the memory before gluing his eyes back to his work.
The first year felt like he was finally getting somewhere, and the paper was taking a more defined shape now. Maybe it could pass as a dragon now? Just, without a tail and legs and arms? None of the details were defined, but he felt like this might be the best he could do.
A glance around the hall revealed others getting their origami charmed by the house elves. Aaron's eyes lit up slightly at the idea of his lizard-dragon-thing breathing a little fire. He turned back to Maria now, a smile gracing his face again. "Wanna get them charmed? Maybe we can make them fight against each other!" His imagination was running a little wild.
@Maria DeeWord Count and Errand Completed
PC: Aaron Jones | iNPC: Madeleine Nakamura | Former staff account: Marcus Iwasaki
2nd Gen PC: Idalia della Torre
Best way to contact me? Discord or owl Idalia
5 Jun 2020, 05:50
Here to Learn
One of the reasons Maria enjoyed origami was the joy of finishing a figure. It was like that she was able to figure out a complicated puzzle and she couldn’t be happier. She was now finishing up the last few folds on her paper badger and making small talk with her friend.
“Well, not too often I mean my dad worked from home so he was always there, sometimes mum would take me to the diner. But sometimes they had to leave, but it was okay, usually they’d ask our neighbors to look after me.” The girl explained as she made the last crease on the badger’s feet. She noticed that her companion was momentarily taking his mind off if his sadness and diverting his attention to talking and folding. This was a definite improvement from his former mood.
“Huh, I haven’t met her yet, but it seems like she was duped too.”
The girl laughed. “Of course, I haven’t really noticed that many people on the Gryffindor team apart from-“
Looking over to his creation, she saw it was looking more like dragon now, instead of abstract art. Sure it had none of its dragon-y appendages, but it was definitely looking better.
“Hey, that looks great!” She held up her finished badger, satisfied with with how it came out.
“I guess I’m about done too.” The joy and excitement in Aaron’s voice made her smile.
“Yeah, let’s go!”
“Well, not too often I mean my dad worked from home so he was always there, sometimes mum would take me to the diner. But sometimes they had to leave, but it was okay, usually they’d ask our neighbors to look after me.” The girl explained as she made the last crease on the badger’s feet. She noticed that her companion was momentarily taking his mind off if his sadness and diverting his attention to talking and folding. This was a definite improvement from his former mood.
“Huh, I haven’t met her yet, but it seems like she was duped too.”
The girl laughed. “Of course, I haven’t really noticed that many people on the Gryffindor team apart from-“
Looking over to his creation, she saw it was looking more like dragon now, instead of abstract art. Sure it had none of its dragon-y appendages, but it was definitely looking better.
“Hey, that looks great!” She held up her finished badger, satisfied with with how it came out.
“I guess I’m about done too.” The joy and excitement in Aaron’s voice made her smile.
“Yeah, let’s go!”
Word Count and Errand Completed!
Tryna solve a problem like Maria.
Stats:Stamina 8||Evasion 7||Strength 5 || Wisdom 8 || Arcane Power 8 ||| Accuracy 9