ofgcia-blog

[ofgcia-blog]

shadowisaak:

He shook his head and let out a sigh. He was grumpy, that much was true, but even when he tried to crack a joke, his students didn’t get it. He wasn’t a fan of teaching first year light magic: it was a level so far beneath him that it might as well have been remedial spell classes. But he was the lowest on the totem pole and the youngest in the PhD programs and he has to take what was thrown to him.

“Alright.” He looked at Audrey’s list of questions again. “Let’s start from the beginning. Show me how you would summon some basic light. Nothing fancy, just a little in the palm of your hand. Like this.” 

Isaak placed his elbow on his desk and flipped his hand over. Light shone from his fingertips, but there were shadows there too. He drew it back quickly.

Audrey gave a curt nod, pleased that it seemed they would move on to actually dealing with her questions rather than sassing one another. She watched as he held his hand out, his fingertips glowing with warm light. It was there for only a moment before he drew back again. She presumed it was because he thought it extremely basic and didn’t see the need it doing more. She hadn’t noticed the shadows lurking.

She exhaled slowly, thinking it was ridiculous to be nervous about such a request. She could conjure light. She could. Light affinity wasn’t her strongest suit, but she could manage skills from the very beginning. Yet she was worried that when she held her hand out, nothing would happen. She outstretched her fingers anyway, searching within herself for the light she knew was there. She just had to pluck it, call it forward the same way she’d call forth water droplets to hover above her fingertips when her plants were wilting. Her plants needed light too, this was a good skill to have. As she exhaled once more, her fingertips began to glow. She could feel a bit of warmth in the tips, and she brightened considerably, the edges of her lips turning upward.

She was holding light in her hand, small and hardly worth noting for most, but she valued it immensely. She could still perform basic summoning skills. The city hadn’t sucked all the life from her. “What next?” She prompted, naively optimistic that she’d simply be able to do the rest on her list since the first had gone well.

[ofgcia-blog]

jaelocke:

Do you not believe me? Does he? Jae has no idea. His eyes are blue, he knows that, but that’s a fact and facts are things you can know. His eyes could be stunning to one person and not to another and he can’t know what any one person would think of his eyes so how should he know what he thinks? “How do eyes stun?” And maybe that’s how he should be thinking about this question. “I think my eyes look nice, like I’m friendly. And I think they look happy. But I don’t know if anyone gets stunned by my eyes. I’d have to ask them.” That sounds like the sort of question that would just be met by a long pause though, so he doesn’t think he will ask anyone. “I am gorgeous, that’s just a fact. My eyes are blue, I’m six feet tall, and people like looking at pictures of me. Those are all facts.” Nothing wrong with saying facts, as long as there was evidence to go along with it and here there was. “Of course we should take a selfie, but we can’t just take a selfie here. The lighting’s all wrong, the background would be weird….” He trails off as he searches for a location, abandoning the wine that may or may not have at some point been champagne on the table.

He shrugs, forgetting about his quest for a selfie location at her next words. Right. The maybe-wine. “I mean it changed. I don’t know if I bought a first drink, but I was holding champagne and it was good champagne. Then I was holding wine. I don’t know how I got either.” It makes sense to him, sometimes people just put things in his hand and tell him to drink them. He does, usually. He hasn’t really been talking to anyone today though, isn’t looking to go home with anyone so there wouldn’t be a point. He goes to hand her the champagne, realizing he’s no longer holding it. It’s gone entirely now. That doesn’t surprise him, and so he just shrugs again. “I did add something to it, but I don’t think that changed it. It’s gone though, so I guess it doesn’t matter.”

Audrey was caught off guard by the question. She considered it for a moment before pursing her lips. How did eyes stun? Well, they weren’t really doing anything, they just were. “They just are the way they are, Jae. Somethings are just like that. They’re beautiful and you can’t really explain why.” She answered, “I suppose you’re right though. But I told you that I thought your eyes were stunning, so that has to be right, at least, to me, yes?” She asked, words mixing with laughter. She hadn’t expected a deep discussion on the subjectivity of eyes. “Yes, you are gorgeous, and you just used your eyes as evidence. Your arguments are reflecting your lack of sobriety, bro.” She teased, nudging him gently. 

She continued with him, not wanting to lose sight of him once more. She wasn’t sure if she’d be able to find him again, and well, she couldn’t read his mind to guess what a perfect selfie location consisted of. Most of her own Instagram was nights with friends, flowers, and selfies with food. That, and her making ridiculous faces. Usually the nose scrunch, or sticking her tongue out at whoever was taking the photo for her. “And where is the lighting perfect?” She asked, hoping for some kind of clue as to where they might end up.

“You were holding champagne, and then wine, and you’re not sure how you got either?” She repeated, concerned. “Jaeeee,” She whined, “That’s the opposite of safe. We have to be careful.” She sighed, not meaning to chide him, but she needed a baseline of help in making sure he got home safely. She eyed his hand, taking a moment to realize she’d watched him set it down. She hadn’t thought too much about it, but that made things clearer. He’d probably done that a couple of times. “How about I get you a water?” She offered. “It’s quite earthy in taste.” She teased, giving him a grin. “What did you add to it?” She added, shaking her head as she lifted her fingers to brush against her brow bone. This boy would be the death of her one day.

[ofgcia-blog]

jerichoheart:

Luce felt terrible about it all, despite the other girl’s reassurances. She looked around for something, anything that might help get the stain from her clothes – the downside to these fantastical, horrible drinks was the damn color probably wouldn’t leave fabric ever, but she had to try. She was too preoccupied to notice the way the other girl leaned away from the cat, but it seemed to, stretching out across the table for a moment before leaping down to squish itself between the wall and her hip. She trailed absent fingers over its back before sighing in resignation: somehow, she’d known that the Witch’s Brew wasn’t the type of establishment to keep napkins on the tables.

❝ I really should have better control over my magic, ❞ she admitted with a sheepish sort of disdain. Luce felt herself warm to the woman when she seemed to decide not to blame her at all, even though she surely deserved it. ❝ My sister could probably dry that off for you; sadly my talents are mostly useful for causing accidents, as I’ve already demonstrated. ❞ God, she was repeating herself, bumbling in an attempt to make some sort of conversation. When was the last time she’d even approached a stranger out of anything other than necessity?

There was a relief in the distance put between them. She often wished she could be closer to people, but when it came down to it, the closeness between others made her nervous. Touch was not something she’d been overly accustomed to in her life, especially in the past few years. ❝ There’s nowhere else to sit, ❞ Luce pointed out, glancing around the room. ❝ You can stay. It’s the least I can do for cloaking myself in a crowded room. ❞ She fumbled through her thoughts for what the polite thing to do would be. Their family had always been particular about manners. ❝ Would you like me to buy you another drink? ❞    

Audrey watched the cat, uncertain if she should be offended or not. It didn’t seem to like her. She’d never really had an animal run from her, but then again, she had almost sat on Luce. Maybe it had taken to the other girl, and resented her for a perceived attack on territory, or something? She loved animals, but plants were still easier to comprehend. 

She shook her head again, “It’s alright, I’m sure it was an accident and you didn’t intend for any of this.” She reassured once more. She knew very little about shadow magic. The extent of her knowledge was just the very basics, but how it worked with real people was beyond her. She’d never attempted it personally, taking to elemental magic instead. Plus, she didn’t have use for shadows. The things she loved flourished in the sun, not hidden away in shadows. 

“It’s just a shirt, truly. Not even my favorite shirt. I’m sure I’ll come up with something for it if the stain doesn’t come.” She promised. “I’m sure there are other things its useful for, and all talents have opportunities for mistakes. Once, I tried to give my mother a birthday present, and I thought I’d be very clever and well, long story short, she ended up tangled in a web of twisted vines, and I ended up bawling, covered in pollen and tulip petals.” She admitted, a smile tugging at her lips at the outrageous memory. It was a true memory too. She’d been overly confident in her abilities, and young enough to try them in a new way. Her mother had been calm, had laughed it off, and helped her fix it all. 

She tried to follow that guidance, offering Luce a warm smile. “Plus, I think I’ve seen a paint color almost this shade. I could probably add more splashes of that, dilute it with a bit of water,” She rambled, thinking aloud. “Anyway, I’m not upset with you. As for learning to control your talents, that’s why you’re at university, isn’t it? It’s only week one, don’t be too hard on yourself. If at the end of four years I nearly squash you again, then we’ll talk.” 

“Cloaking, that’s the word.” She gave a nod, “I really should read more about other affinities, I just sort of zeroed in on elemental magic. What does it feel like, to cloak yourself?” She asked, curiously, trying to take the direction and focus away from misuse and mistakes, and show interest and appreciation instead. “A drink? Sure, but you really don’t have to. I promise.” 

[ofgcia-blog]

artemyofcups:

artemy finds solace in the winter’s bite, immeasurably more tame in england than it was in russia, but it reminds him of his origins, of the wintry chill that nursed him and it’s more reflex than thought that makes him take comfort in it. not much else does, though he doesn’t mind terribly. he wasn’t known to form attachments, to the tangible or intangible; feral things did not care for the value or beauty or merit of the corporeal, only whether or not it could sate their appetite. dark eyes washed over the architecture, the ground slick with ice, the grand edifices and lofty towers and flickered back in front of him, decidedly unimpressed. 

a small commotion snags his senses, however, and he turns just in time to watch audrey in the midst of slipping on the ice, and he keeps his expression stoic, to allow her her dignity (his idea of mercy), only cracking a smile when laughter bubbles from her lips. the girl, only a year older, had seemed to be under the impression that she would a maternal force for him, but in moments like these it seemed she was as much in need of looking after as those to whom she tended.

“pity is insulting, audrey, and i wouldn’t demean you like that. i’ll give it a three, and whatever’s left of this.” he shakes his own coffee cup, his lips quirking. “it’s putting me to sleep. perhaps i need a tumble down some steps to wake me up.” artemy extends a hand. “i assume only your pride is bruised, if even that.”

“A three?” Audrey gasped, feigning insult. “I think I’d prefer the pity.” She pouted up at him for a fraction of a moment before taking the extended hand. Her fingers wrapped tightly around his hand as she allowed herself to be helped from the step. The moment she was stable on her feet again, she wrapped her fingers around his coffee cup and pulled so that she could try it. Her nose scrunched as she swallowed down a bit of it. She wasn’t the biggest coffee drinker, usually “ruining” it with too much milk, and much preferred tea, but she couldn’t quite pinpoint what his was. “What did you order?” She asked, brows drawing together as she took another sip.

Audrey adjusted the bag so it wasn’t falling off of her, and then brushed the bagel crumbs from her shirt. She was the picture of feminine elegance, wasn’t she? Her grandmother would have thrown a fit. “Thank you,” She added. “I’m fine, I might have a little bruise tomorrow, but nothing I can’t handle. I’m a tough cookie.” She promised before bending down to pick up the lid and cup. She moved away from him long enough to toss it in the bin. She’d take it as a sign she needed to return to her preferred teas. She mixed them herself in the tea shop she worked at. While her affinity was struggling, her extensive knowledge of herbs and the like didn’t suffer. 

“Artemy,” She began, tilting her head for a moment as she looked him over. “I was going to count a bagel as enough sustenance for the afternoon, but considering I only got about a third of the half, you can do the math if you want,” She paused, a smirk gracing her lips at her attempt at a joke, “I just don’t think it’s going to be enough. Which means, you should join me for a proper lunch. My treat?” She offered, though really she shouldn’t. Too late to take it back, she’d just eat dinner at Xavier’s and steal his food instead to make up for it. 

[ofgcia-blog]

solntsas:

at this point of the day, all aurora ever wanted was to cozy up with multiple blankets and maybe some hot chocolate if she felt like indulging herself - countless dates and locations and spells and charms and potion recipes were flying in her head as she made her way through the campus, trying to think about the way to sandy’s and that only. she would have to commemorate herself for fighting for that timetable without any classes after three-thirty; it had been a grueling experience to give herself time and space to both study and nap. she could remember the days of napping in the library in between distant hours of different lectures, her simple mistake of thinking that four pm classes would be good for her. who knew she was a morning person, really?

she tied her scarf around her neck as she exited the daily grind with her cup of tea in her hand - she really didn’t want to chase the afternoon nap away, especially after all those classes, with a seemingly innocent cup of coffee. her earbuds placed in, walking quickly with warmth and the soft sofa in the corner of her room in mind, she thought of all the assignments and essays and midterms that would soon start pooling up before she knew it; the undergraduate reading rooms would be full to the very brim, the cafes in total chaos and full of restless energy. she had been in total confusion and affrontment when she had first seen the sight - the library itself had almost zero seats available, and with her workload, she’d had no idea how to manage. she wouldn’t make that mistake again.

she shook her head with a sigh as she quickened her steps, walking towards the stairs that led to the exit. she had promised herself - promised - that she wouldn’t get caught up in her expectations in the next semester, that she would try her hardest to balance her existence as a student and a person. drinks on thursdays and fridays, study sessions through monday to wednesday, and a mix of both during weekends. surely, she could manage some form of organization, yes?

she was about to bolt to the doors when she was met with the sight of - audrey, falling quite spectacularly over the steps, making a mess as she did. aurora’s eyes met with audrey’s for a moment before they both started laughing, aurora pressing her hand against her mouth as she cackled, eyes almost tearing up. “i’m going to give that a solid seven,” she said as she tried to calm her laughter down, “just because you had a bagel in your mouth. geez, i needed that.” she moved towards audrey to give her a hand, a grin on her face. it was always pleasant to encounter a familiar, friendly face - but like this? completely priceless.

“are you okay?” she asked, frowning in slight concern. “while positively amusing, that looked like a hard fall. especially for the coffee. i can take you to the infirmary, if you need some company?”

Admittedly, if Audrey had to have someone witness her fall, she would have probably chosen Aurora. She could count on the blonde to laugh with her, and the teasing would be good-natured, and not riddled with judgement and malice. Audrey continued to laugh, her chest rising and falling as she did. Tears welled in her own eyes, both because the fall had stung and because she was laughing hard enough to constrict her airways. She gave a nod, sticking her bottom lip out a better. “A seven for the bagel.” She giggled, unable to keep the relative straight-face for long. “I’m glad my afternoon snack choices, lack of coordination, and unexpected presence have fulfilled your daily needs.” She grinned, taking Aurora’s hand. 

She pushed herself up with Aurora’s help, and carefully brushed the bagel crumbs from her shirt before adjusting the strap of her back. “Mhm, definitely no need for a visit to the infirmary. I’ll take ibuprofen later and whine about it enough to justify a bubble bath.” She promised. She genuinely was fine, enough that she knew it would largely be forgotten about within an hour. She’d still soak later, and she’d likely bruise, but it wasn’t the first bruise she’d ever endured. Growing up she’d been covered in black and blue from jumping off docks, climbing trees, and general clumsiness. “The coffee may need the infirmary.” She agreed, glancing down at the cup.

Audrey shook her head, “A true pity, it was fresh too. They fall from greatness so quickly these days. It’s the young ones, I tell you.” She sniffed, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, both because she’d had real tears from laughing, and for the theatrics. “Where were you going in such a hurry anyway? You caused all of this, you know, blinding me without a single consideration for what it would do to me.” She teased as she bent down to pick the cup and lid up. “I hope it wasn’t anywhere important, because you’re not going to make it.” She shrugged, giving what was a teasingly apologetic glance to one of her dearest friends. “While I don’t need the infirmary, I’ll definitely require your constant companionship for the next few hours. Pity, really.” She insisted, hoping Aurora really was free and would be able to join her.

[ofgcia-blog]

shadowisaak:

Isaak swiveled in his chair to face Audrey with a dry look on his face. “Number one, I’m more ancient than you will ever be.” He counted on his fingers. “Number two, if I made the mistake of being approachable, I sincerely apologize. I’m an unapproachable figure you can complain about to your parents.”

He took the list from her hands with a raised eyebrow. “These are all things I literally just taught you in class. Did you not take notes?”

Audrey arched a brow in question to number one. What the hell did that mean? Admittedly, she didn’t know Isaak very well but she was fairly certain he wasn’t ancient. “I mean, yes? You’ll always be older than I am, but I’d hardly say you’re ancient.” She quipped, thinking their conversation had already taken quite a strange turn. “Also, you don’t really get to determine whether you’re approachable. You can have desires with it, you can act in ways to encourage or discourage people’s levels of comfort, but in the end it’s on the person choosing whether to approach you.” She shrugged, wondering why he insisted on being unapproachable.

She set the mug of tea down on his desk at his question so that she could unzip her bag and pull the notebook out. “Of course I took notes.” She insisted, flipping it open to that day’s page. She took meticulous notes, genuinely wanting to fix whatever was causing her affinity to not come as naturally. She wasn’t a perfect student, but in classes she deemed important, she tried her best. “I know the information. I could tell it to you, without reading my notes. It’s the practicality of it that I’m having issues with. Isn’t it your job to help?”

[ofgcia-blog]

Step out into the wild There's a beautiful storm in your eyes We're perfectly intertwined And if it's quite alright, you could be my way of life

Sea salt sits on your lips Birds fall earthwards from cliffs Thought I couldn't do this But I'm fine 'cause you're by my side

[ofgcia-blog]

shadowisaak:

“When it’s only one week into the term and students are already asking for extra credit…” Isaak shakes his head. “I’m only a tutor, just a masters student. Why in the ever-loving hell do they find me to be the approachable one?”

Audrey leaned against the door frame, mug of tea in one hand, the other wrapped around the strap to her backpack. She arched a brow at his question, seemingly to himself, but she was there so she might as well answer it. “Because you’re not ancient, you’re closer in age to us so that makes you relatable or something. Also, you’re easier on the eyes than many professors. You don’t even need box dye yet.” She smirked, cheeks flaring red at the words that tumbled from her tongue, though she meant it to be a joke. Perhaps she’d taken her mother’s advice of breaking the ice with a cheesy joke a bit too far. “But mostly because many of us have awful complexes that say we ought not disappoint our professors, so you become our sort of first line of defense. If we can fix problems with you, then there’s less to worry about. Hakuna Matata,” 

She pushed off from the door frame, slipping further into the room. “Really though, I don’t want extra credit. I just want help. I have a list of questions.” She admitted, letting go of the strap to fumble around in her backpack for an actual list, which she extended toward him. “My mind just isn’t where it needs to be, I guess? Homesick or something.” It was a very simplified explanation for why she was already struggling, but at least she was proactively trying to prevent herself from digging a hole she couldn’t get out of. 

[ofgcia-blog]

jaelocke:

Seeing Audrey shouldn’t have been unexpected, he has some vague memory of having left his house today with Audrey, but she had still faded from his idea of what was happening now and so he wrapped an arm around her because the notion someone might object to being lost is not something yet lost to him. “Does it matter if it’s just the makeup? If it looks stunning, it looks stunning.” Real was overrated, nothing was really real. No one saw past the top layer of anything, whether it was makeup or the life of your favorite partying business student, so why bother trying to build up anything that wouldn’t show? “Maybe I should wear makeup, then. You think that would make my eyes stunning, too?”

He sees where her eyes go and, yeah, he might need to slow down a bit or he’d be having some conversations he didn’t want to have. This was Audrey, though, so he might have to answer as to why he was drinking like he was trying to drown himself on a random Saturday night, but he doubted she’d know about the powder mixed into the sparkling glass of– what was he drinking? This wasn’t champagne anymore. 

“I’m not sure.” Jae examined the drink in his hand, surprised that the champagne had become wine, or had always been wine, or– he wasn’t sure. He just wasn’t sure. Wine was good too, though, and wine made more sense for the occasion, but also it had been good champagne. Where was his champagne? “I think it changed. Can things just change?”

Audrey lifted her shoulder in a shrug at his question. “I suppose it doesn’t matter if it’s real or not, but I’ve already told you, without makeup your eyes are stunning. Do you not believe me?” She asked, pursing her lips into a pout. She couldn’t keep it long as an arm looped around her. She responded in kind, giving him a sort of side hug. “You know you’re gorgeous, Jae. Don’t give me any of that. Drunk as a skunk or not, you know you’re a pretty boy.” She teased, making sure that her tone matched her intention. Jae was handsome, and he certainly came across as believing it--what with the incessant selfie taking. “Where’s your phone? We’ll take a picture together to prove it.” She offered, nudging him with her elbow. 

Concern etched across her face, replaced quickly with a fair amount of exasperation. “Damn it Jae, what do you mean you’re not sure? It changed?” She asked, confused. Magic had many unusual results, and magical alcohol was just begging to take the cake with strange occurrences, but she really didn’t think a drink would just change without some kind of prompting. “Did you buy a second drink, finish a different one? Did you add something to the drink?” She asked, trying to gauge just how fun it was going to be to get him home. She shifted some, reaching her fingers out for his cup. “May I?” She asked, thinking she could possibly smell it. Naive as she was, she wasn’t stupid enough to take a small sip. Jae was far braver with unknown substances than she. 

[ofgcia-blog]

Audrey Kaynes, a field guide pt 1: 

First year + Earth Magic + 20 years old + The Empress Birthday + Zodiac: February 27th, Pisces  Enneagram: type 6 winged 7 (the loyalist + the buddy, self preservation variant) Hogwarts House: Hufflepuff MBTI: ISFP  Moral Alignment: Neutral Good

Traits ( positive ++ ): idealist, wise, compassionate, friendly, creative, somewhat? flexible, deep connectivity, genuine, truthful (mostly), dependable, empathetic, hard-working Traits ( negative -- ): dependent, frustrated, somewhat? inflexible, shy, blames others over self, sensitive, needs stability & security, sometimes impractical

Audrey in a series of aesthetic words: bathtubs, greenhouses, group game night, wholesome squad goals, real life poison ivy when you cross her loved ones, nerdy, clumsy, somehow both introverted & shy/extroverted & outgoing, loves plants more than people, summertime spent picking apples, sunrises, dusty tomes in the library, does the nose scrunch thing, self-deprecating humor, mac & cheese out of a pan, netflix binge for days, down to earth, will beat you in scategories, avid game of thrones fan (self-proclaimed tyrell), bit of a history buff, would be rapuznel in a disney movie, afraid of small spaces, sarcasm as a shield for social awkwardness, tea shop darling, actual smol (5′3), no sense of personal boundaries, is she the mum or the dad of the group nobody knows, sometimes? a daredevil, will climb trees, animals are lovely, prefers the countryside to the big city all day, hordes sweets, will read in a laundry basket with loads of blankets, either finishes a book in one sitting or it takes 3 months, road trips!!, loves the game Clue hates monopoly, family-oriented af (friends count), will 1000% laugh at her own jokes

[ofgcia-blog]

xavier-ryle:

   For a fraction of a second there, as soon as Xavier recognizes a friend, the world stops only to then resume its progression slower.

   The good kind of slower: the kind that allows one to catch a breath, to let the freezing pink fingers thaw, to stop and rid oneself of the need to constantly run from something or run in attempts to maintain a purpose to his existence. In a stark contrast to his state a few moments ago, the boy’s more content with just taking a second to simply sit there.

   Shutting his eyes only to immediately reopen them, as if the implication that his company is not enough of a gift is nothing short of scandalous, Xavier lets out a teasing scoff.

   “Oh wow you’re outrageous. No manners, none whatsoever,” voice scolding, he pries the glass out of her hands to hide a smile behind it’s rim. “If you’ve indeed grown so covetous, I’m willing to keep the fact that I caught you getting shamelessly drunk in broad daylight-” he shakes what he’s very well aware is just water, obnoxious and matter-of-factly, “-to myself.”

   Sinking deeper into the cushions, he rears back in his chair and looks up at the passing waiter to ask for a menu. The stolen glass Xavier now slides against the wooden surface of their table, pushing it towards the girl in an accusatorial manner, even if the way he can barely contain an amused smile fails to stick the landing. “No, I see how it is. Halfway through your freshman year and slipping already, aren’t you?”

The familiarity of Xavier is welcome. It helps to ground her in a way only Xavier seems capable of accomplishing. Moments ago she was sitting in a pub, uncertain of how she got there or why she stayed as long as she did, but now it felt somehow intentional, as if the universe had aligned things perfectly so that this very moment could occur.

It wasn’t uncommon for them to bump into one another, nor was his playfulness something that would catch her off guard. She suppressed a giggle as best she could as he took the water from her hand. Her brow arched in question as he began to chide her. Playing along, this she could do, easily, and it felt good too. When he’d finished chiding her, she let out an audible gasp, feigning horror. “Now you just wait a minute, Ryle.” She began, squaring her shoulders as if puffing up her chest for the defense. “You told me to play along, yet provided no script. I’m a novice actress as you are well aware, so I improvised. What fun is a well-mannered, obedient young lady when shameless day-drinking in broad-daylight leads to a more intriguing character arc? Hmmm?” She asked, fighting to keep the laughter from her tone.

She shook her head, tsking playfully as he slid the glass back to her. Maintaining eye contact, she lifted it to her lips and took a big gulp. When finished, she let out a pleased sigh and set the glass back down. “But I do suppose I should be grateful. You’re kindly ignoring my lack of manners, and keeping my covetous ways private. It seems fair, in retrospect.” 

“Now,” She paused for a moment, for the necessary dramatic effect. “You’re on the run Ryle, I can see it all over your face. Find yourself at the wrong table in a smoky room? Bloody hell, I thought we’ve been through this. This is why adventures are always a team effort.” She couldn’t contain the grin that spread across her face. She just couldn’t. Every few seconds a bit of laughter would escape, ruining the facade completely. “You going to tell me what the next step is, before I order another shot of this not-so-innocent water?”

[ofgcia-blog]

jaelocke:

location: the fountain

time: 12:14 am

status: open

Jae has a glass of champagne in his hand that definitely wasn’t his first and he’s feeling this night. He could just tell that it was going to be good, there was something in the air that just felt right. Even the evening chill wasn’t getting to him, the air around him being noticeably warmer than that just a few feet away.

He takes a drink from his glass– he’s not sure why it’s champagne, he’s not celebrating anything but somehow through the series of events of the night he’s ended up with champagne and he’s not going to question it– and looks around for someone to talk to, drawn to the first person he sees standing alone.

“Bro, you have pretty eyes.” Jae felt that it was urgently important for the person he was speaking to to understand that, putting one hand on their shoulder and nearly spilling the glass of wine that was in his other hand. “Like, so pretty. So so pretty. I want pretty eyes. Mine are so boring. But yours aren’t, because they’re pretty.”

While Audrey didn’t venture to the Fountain regularly, she had found herself there more than once in the past week or so. This time, she’d tagged along with Jae. Mostly, she just wanted to make sure he was alright. She worried, perhaps a little too much, and thought he could use a sober friend to keep an eye on him. Despite her best efforts, she’d lost him in the crowded room. People were drinking, talking, having an all-around good time, and she fed off of their happiness, but she needed to find Jae. She walked through the crowd, leaning up on her toes every few pauses to try to see over shoulders and heads. How difficult could it be to find him? He was blonde, rather tall (at least, in comparison to her), and would no doubt be chatting up someone. 

Plus, he had an air of friendliness that he carried with him everywhere, and it made him approachable, in her opinion. A soft sigh left her lips as she ducked under an outstretched arm, narrowly avoiding wine getting dumped all over her. Rather than finding him however, he found her. A relieved smile spread across her lips as Jae approached, words slurring off his tongue. She laughed, brightening even more at the compliment as she moved to take his hand and tug him further away from the crowds of people, in hopes of not losing him again. “Why thank you, Jae. I know, my eyes are stunning, but really it’s just the makeup.” She promised. “Your eyes aren’t boring, knock that off. Nobody with boring eyes would have so many insta likes on their selfies.” She pointed out before eyeing the drinks. It wasn’t her place to tell him when enough was enough, and she wasn’t going to, but keeping mental tabs on what he drank, at least, to the best of her ability, might come in handy later.

“What’re you drinking, bro?” She asked, tone teasing. Her goal now was just to keep him within visible range, that way when they did decide to venture home from the Fountain, she’d be able to help. She wasn’t the most physically capable person, but she’d find a way to help him stumble back to his bed, give him water, and generally keep an eye on him. 

[ofgcia-blog]

time: 3:40 pm  location: steps (building utp)  status: open to everyone

Things Nobody Tells You About Living In the City #804 

Those nice buildings with the elegant steps that look like they’ve been picked up and dropped down right from a painting or historical television drama? Yeah, they’re stunning and a testament to the architectural skills of old, but the steps are also slippery as shit in February when ice coats them in a thin, oft invisible layer thanks to the glare of the sun.

Audrey had her bag slung over her shoulder, take-away cup of coffee in hand, and a piece of bagel in her mouth for an afternoon snack as she tried to hurry down the steps. She missed the ice altogether in sight, but her feet were sure to find every last bit of it. Her shoe slipped forward, knocking her balance off kilter. Within a fraction of a second, her coffee had gone flying, lid now a half meter away from the cup. The liquid ran down the steps like a milk-heavy french roast, it’s color similar to the muddy riverbanks she’d slip and slide through back home. 

She landed with a hmph, teeth biting into the bagel as it crumbled in her mouth, the rest of the piece falling to her lap as her bag slid down her arm. She landed partially on the bag, the rest of her arse hitting the rough pavement. Immediately she could feel the cold as well as the guaranteed bruise that would grace her backside for at least a few days. Her wrist also protested her weight as she used her hands to stabilize her unexpected landing. Audrey exhaled slowly, shocked more than genuinely hurt. She lifted her eyes, not the least bit surprised to find another pair staring back at her. The universe was unpredictable in many ways, but the fact that she was guaranteed an audience to her slip-and-slide show was not one of them. 

For a moment, Audrey simply nodded. Then she laughed, a bright, cheerful sound like the peal of a bell. You had to laugh at things like this. For all the city’s faults, and Audrey had kept a list, it wasn’t the city’s fault she hadn’t noticed the ice. She had no one to blame except her own hurry. “That has to be at least a four? Right? Give me a six because you pity me my lost coffee?” She asked, looking up at them as if waiting for a score card. She pulled her bag back on her shoulder and dusted the bagel crumbs from her shirt. The coffee was a lost cause, but she’d pick up the cup and lid as soon as she could convince her hip to stop throbbing. 

[ofgcia-blog]

luca-shankar:

time: 8:30pm location: arcana — gymnasium; training grounds status: for @gavriella-penzig, but open to all

Any other night, Luca would have been at his desk by now. Long ago, he’d decided that anything after 8 should be done alone, be it reviewing lecture notes in his bedroom or hauling his clothes to the launderette. Although late-night rebelliousness was never part of his nature, such a claim couldn’t be said for the majority of his friends. Therefore, although he’d never admit it, his rule had less to do with disciplining himself from nocturnal temptations and everything to do with protecting himself from being invited to participate. Everybody needs their alibi. 

It went without saying that this wasn’t a typical night. Macalester’s passing had shaken the university at its core. Maybe it was colder. Maybe it was just Luca. But the air had more of a bite to it; that much was certain. And when his boot came down against the ground, it was without the ginger hop so fundamental to his nature. 

He could still hear his father’s voice in his head, saying: यह बहादुर होने का समय है. It’s time to be brave. Luca knew he was right. He could either stand idly by or he could do something. His boots came together when he arrived at the gym. The lights were out, but he knew he wasn’t alone. He made a fist, and a ball of fire sputtered to life. It burned red hot and threw huge black shadows against the walls.

“Alright,” he said. “I’m ready when you are.” 

Truly, Audrey had no business in the training gymnasium beyond staying in shape, even less reason to be there so late at night. So why was she there? Even Audrey couldn’t really answer that question. She’d wandered, having been in the library rather late, nose stuck in her book of origins that she’d been pouring over since the semester started and would likely continue to pour over until she found the answer she was looking for or finished the damned thing. Her wandering into the gymnasium still made little sense to her, and she was about to leave when Luca made his presence known. 

Audrey's eyes widened considerably as she watched the flame conquer darkness. Her mouth fell open a little at his question before she lifted her hands in a sort of grasping movement. "Yeah um, so." She began, already stumbling over her words. "See, the thing is," her voice lifted an octave, "I make plants grow and fire is just really not conducive to that?" She let her fingers spread out, palms up as she offered a sheepish smile. "Kind of the exact opposite really. Just," She awkwardly lifted a hand, running her fingers through her hair as she tucked it behind her ear. "I'll watch if you want an audience but I'm probably not much of a challenge to you in any way."

It wasn’t a jab at herself, not truly. She often sat with friends, dramatically insisting that her affinity was twice as dangerous as anyone else’s, after all there was a villain with a similar affinity. Poison Ivy had nothing on her. It just wasn’t usually the truth. She wasn’t naturally drawn to confrontation, and while she saw merit in being able to defend herself, she scarcely spent time sparring other students, let alone those with affinities that were more clearly dangerous. “Or..I can leave and give you the space to train. I really don’t even know why I stumbled in here.” She confessed, her cheeks warming with the awkwardness of the situation. 

Good job, Auds, you’re being really eloquent here. 

[ofgcia-blog]

jerichoheart:

Luce didn’t mean for it to happen. She was simply sitting at the deepest, darkest corner table she could find, letting a black cat curl his tail around her wrist. All the cats liked her, which was the only reason she came to this place – it certainly wasn’t for the drinks – but especially the black ones. Another was perched on the table in front of her, pushing her head into Luce’s hand with hardly any assistance. A small, secret smile graced her face, and she leaned forward, pressing her face against the cat’s fur. Unlike with most people, the cat seemed to enjoy her closeness, purring even harder: a feat she’d have called impossible moments before.

She swirled her mug with a morbid interest, watching the deceptively glimmering, bright aqua liquid move in response. It seemed to always swirl the opposite way she’d expect it to. With a grimace, Luce set it back down on the table. The place had begun to fill since she’d come in, and she realized the other tables had all filled up, with students and even a few off-color alumni. The bartenders looked as exasperated as ever, and Luce caught the eye of the cat beside her. Amateurs, the cat seemed to say, its expression letting her know the other patrons were slim pickings. Luce bit her lip to keep from smiling again; if she did it too much her mouth would hurt from all the use.

She was so caught up in pretending the cats could talk ( and perhaps it was pathetically lonely of her, making friends with cats instead of trying to carry on conversation with real people ) that she didn’t notice the person headed straight for her. Not, at least, until they were about to sit in her lap.

❝ Oh! ❞ Luce exclaimed, throwing her hands out as the cat next to her yowled and jumped out of the way. Instead of sitting on her, the person now sat next to her, and she couldn’t bear to see what their expression held. Not yet, anyway. If they were angry, she was trapped in the booth on the inside seat, and that was far too much anxiety for her to take in at once. ❝ I’m sorry, I’m so sorry – you didn’t see me, did you. ❞ It wasn’t a question, and she grimaced in their general direction, her hands sliding over her eyes as she rested her elbows against the table. Her forgotten drink smelled faintly like stale licorice. ❝ My fault; I never notice. The shadows get long enough and I just sort of… fall in. ❞ Chancing a glance, she peeked up at them, fear and a fair amount of shame in her gaze. ❝ Are you alright? ❞  

Audrey had little recollection of how she wound up in the Witch’s Brew, questionable liquid of something glimmering in the light, sitting in her hand. It was thick like honey, but not the right color. She’d gotten better at pointing out colors thanks to a friendship with Xavier, and with recognition that the colors in the city were often off, made rather than natural. The liquid gold had specks of deep orange mixed throughout, and truthfully she didn’t think it wise to bring the cup to her lips. She’d prefer to stick with her own brews, herbs that she could trust, and a natural ability to mix them together. 

She walked, heading directly for a dark corner in the room. She wasn’t sure what called her toward it. It was the same song in the back of her head, heard at times throughout the city. It beckoned to her, a soft whisper that was both deceptively soothing, and haunting. She followed it of her own free will, at least, she thought she was free to decide and moved to sit down when the other girl came into view. A gasp left her lips as she stumbled to the side, sitting incredibly close to Luce for the sheer quickness of the directional adjustment. Audrey shook her head, “Oh no, please don’t apologize!” She insisted, thinking it preposterous that she would apologize for not being noticed of all things. Audrey was the one who had nearly sat on her, after all.

It was then that she realized the golden liquid had spilled all down the front of her shirt. It had soaked through enough now that the dampness could be felt. A soft sigh left her lips as she set the remainder of the cup on the table, eyeing the cat that seemed to glare at her when she did so. She loved animals of all sort, but the look this one gave her was somewhat unsettling. Audrey wasn’t used to dark corners. She much preferred lazing in the sun. A garden of life, colors naturally made, and a lack of gray was her safe space. Roses couldn’t bloom in darkness, after all. She hesitated a moment, her fingers still holding the cup before she moved it a bit further from the cat. Turning her head, Audrey’s brows drew together in confusion for a moment. “Your fault?” She questioned, her features softening when she caught Luce’s expression.

“No, not your fault. Please there’s nothing to be sorry about.” She reassured, offering a soft and genuine smile in return. “It’ll dry.” She promised, before she realized she was still practically on top of her. She shifted a bit, putting a respectable amount of space between them. “Are you alright? I’m sorry for nearly squashing you, I’m sorry for taking your space too, I’ll leave.” She offered, adjusting her shirt some, thanking the world for having the sense not to wear white. 

[ofgcia-blog]

siixofswords:

“Good call.” Georgia felt her smile start to grow stiff at the mention of the other girl’s mother and her stories, so she quickly averted her gaze down to the books before her. She pressed her palms down on the open pages, if only to settle her rising heartbeat. Her palms grew warm, Georgia channelling magic without even realising, and began to relax. She glanced back up at her companion, her smile still gentle, if a bit faded.

“Again, definitely trying to. Whether or not I’ll be able to focus and actually make one is to be determined. As much as I love what I’m studying, it seems like every time I try to sit down and study, or even plan to study, the universe just says, not today! I mean, did you know there’s a ghost on the top floor of the library?” Without realising, Georgia had let herself ramble. With any luck, her surprise would be taken for interest and not aversion, but she seemed to be running low on that lately. She was eager to change the subject, and it seemed like her table companion liked to talk. At least, more than Georgia did.

“Is your mother an earth witch, too? I assume that’s your affinity, given your choice of reading,” she gestured to the open tome, “but please correct me if I’m wrong. I didn’t realise so many people studied earth magic here. I wouldn’t be surprised if was one of the most popular affinities, and it’s useful, too. But, obviously, you could be studying something else. I know lots of people take modules not necessarily related to their affinity.” Me, for example.

“Thanks, figured I might as well do something right for once.” Audrey released a breathy laugh, trying to make light of an otherwise heavier statement. She noted the slight shift in the blonde woman before her. Hands pressed to the book, as if she could soak the words in through diffusion. If only. Then again, she couldn’t rule it out. Not in a place like this. How was it that others appeared within these halls and their magic was heightened, when hers--well. She shoved the thoughts aside as quickly as they came. It didn’t do to tangle oneself in vines of envy. She knew nothing of Georgia’s situation, she could very easily be overthinking, searching for a point in her book of blame, the very one that held the all-encompassing question. 

She listened, feeling bad that she’d made Georgia repeat herself. “That’s way too real,” Audrey agreed, “I feel like I keep looking at the pages of books and I’m not actually getting anything from it.” She admitted, glad that she wasn’t the only one struggling to actually study despite the intention to get things done. “I keep reading, and I actually want to know and learn, but it’s just in one ear, out the next.” She sighed. “A ghost in the library? No, I can’t say I’ve met this ghost. Did you see them?” She asked, curiously. She didn’t know a whole lot about ghosts, hadn’t had encounters, and frankly didn’t really want to. 

Audrey nodded, “She is, and my grandmother before her, and so on for as long as anyone can remember. They’ve passed stories down, but mostly I just spent time growing up, watching my mother with her work. We lived on a farm that was in my family for ages, until we moved to the city.” She explained, eyes darkening for just a moment. “It is my chosen affinity, no worries. There are a lot of us, I think it’s different with everyone though. Mostly my focus is just on the elements in general. I prefer the Earth over most anything else, but water is a close second. They go hand in hand, complement one another well.” She added. “It is useful, I’m glad you said that. I think too many people look at it and find it a neat parlor trick, but lacking any real power, you know? Ooh, you can make flowers blossom faster and all that. But it’s so much more.” She practically hummed as she spoke of her chosen affinity, delighting in the tricks of the Earth, though hidden in the musical tone was a longing, a deep seeded desire to let it flourish once more. If only she could figure out what was blocking it.

“What about you? Have you chosen your field of study?” She prompted, trying to steer things back on a safe and comfortable course, rather than diving deeper in the presence of company.

[ofgcia-blog]