Raise Me Up (CJ)

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Kinsey was sitting on a bench in the courtyard, stroking Scuttle as she looked across the small space. She didn't have any homework to do, anywhere she was supposed to be, but she was feeling ... down. In all actuality, Kinsey didn't really have a reason to be feeling that way, but she was. So she went somewhere most people avoided at this time of day, after dinner, that was. Most people would go to the courtyard in between classes or right before meals. After them, not as much. 

She stared off into the distance, her mind full and empty at the same time. She wasn't really thinking about anything, but at the same time, she felt as though she was thinking of everything. Then her mind latched onto something. The Carnival. The Carnival was fun until ... Dom came back. He was back. She thought that he'd be gone for at least the rest of the school year, but he wasn't and ever since that moment when she saw him at the carnival, there was a knot in her stomach and she couldn't get it to go away. Not that she told anyone about it. She couldn't and wouldn't. Her family wouldn't believe her and she didn't want to inflict his torment on any of her friends or make it worse on herself. So what was she supposed to do? Kinsey couldn't decide.

So she sat there, oblivious to the world around her, even as the sun set and the sky got darker. 

@rissa88  
(hehe let the bonding commence!)

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Twilight, in CJ's humble opinion, was the perfect time for a run.

Sparring was best done early in the morning; an intense session at her normal 5am wake up time; or in the early evening, by moonlight. Dueling was a midday exercise, since she could adjust easily to muted light but needed to work on the times when the sun's glare was harsh on her eyes. But running...

It needed enough light so as not to trip over stray roots or a misplaced rock. It needed enough shade for her skin not to burn and her temperature not to skyrocket. To her own preference, it also needed a space that wasn't too populated by students who would question her rigorous training schedule.

So. Twilight.

The delicate stitch of time after dinner, and before curfew, that was CJ's favourite time to eat up the kilometers around the castle and relish in the burn in her calves.

Loosening her muscles while she walked, the Lion crossed the courtyard, breathing evenly and getting into her zone. However, a flash of something in her peripheral vision stopped CJ short, and the brunette halted abruptly in her tracks.

Sharp brown eyes scanned their surroundings and a beat of concern stopped the Seeker short when she saw a lone girl sitting on a bench, with what seemed like the weight of the world balancing on delicate shoulders.

Merlin, did she ever know that feeling.

The naturally empathetic Gryffindor put her plans on hold, approaching the other girl before she even gave herself a chance to think about it.

"Alright there, mate?" she asked lightly, when she was close enough, a gentle and easy smile lifting her lips. "M'CJ, by the way," she added quickly with a rueful grin, holding out her hand in greeting.



@kinsey
Looking forward to it!!

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Kinsey was so lost in her own thoughts and emotions that she didn't notice someone had approached until they spoke. She jumped at the sound of her voice, and then started berating herself internally. She could not afford to zone out like this. If she wasn't paying attention, Dom would definitely be able to sneak up on her and then what would she do? She'd be stuck, she was certain that he'd make sure of that. He had too much fun tormenting her to allow her to go easily when he didn't h ave to. 

All of this she thought in an instant as she turned to face the person who was approaching her. A girl. She looked very familiar, which meant she was probably in Kinsey's year, but Kinsey didn't quite remember who she was. She forced an easy smile. "I'm fine. I was just thinking ... school and homework and things." Not quite true, but Kinsey was not going to unload her problems on anyone, even a stranger. 

Then the girl introduced herself, extending a hand. Kinsey looked at it for a second, wishing she didn't have to take it. She didn't like physical contact, as a general rule, but at least she could sense that this girl had good intentions. Kins took her hand, shaking it a bit formally, "Kinsey," she responded. "Are we in the same year?" she asked as she took her hand back casually. Kinsey was trying desperately hard not to be rude, even though the only thing she'd sensed from the girl upon contact was concern. 

@rissa88

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CJ noted idly the way the girl jumped, not mean enough to comment about it, but concerned enough to observe it. It spoke of the girl's mindset; it told the Seeker that the girl hadn't expected for anyone to be around here this time of day, or at least hadn't expected anyone to approach her, and that in turn told CJ that she definitely was struggling with something... something personal, it seemed.

Salem De Luca was a hardass, but the man had taught his daughter everything about reading people.

"Of course," CJ nodded with a small smile, not believing for an instant that school was what was worrying the poor girl. There had been a blatant flash of fear in the girl's eyes when she turned to face CJ, combined with a hint of what seemed like despair, and even if CJ hadn't been practicing reading people for a decade, it would've been fairly obvious that the girl wasn't being completely honest. Still, CJ of all people knew the value of keeping certain things secret. She wouldn't push the girl into talking... but she was going to offer a friendly ear nevertheless.

Again taking note of the way the girl seemed to be hesitant to make physical contact - is it a contact thing? Or did someone hurt her? - CJ smiled, careful not to let on that she was observing the girl. "Pleasure to meet you, Kinsey," she replied instead, grinning warmly. "I actually think we might be... I'm a sixth year. You?"

CJ reached up absently, securing her ponytail when it felt like it was coming loose. "What are you doing out here, alone, Kinsey?" she asked gently, making sure that her tone didn't come across as interrogative, or nosey; simply concerned and friendly. "I just mean... it's almost dark out."


@kinsey

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The girl was smiling at her, but her gaze was calculating. Kinsey still didn't sense anything negative coming from her, but she still felt slightly apprehensive. The one good thing about being here with someone was that Dominic couldn't come. Well, he could, but it would be harder to get her away from a new "friend." Kinsey smiled back, not really knowing what else to say so she asked the girl a question. "So how are you doing?" It wasn't really the best question, but it stopped the silence, which was all Kinsey really wanted.

Kinsey nodded when CJ said she was  sixth year. "Yes, I am. I'm in Ravenclaw." She looked at the other girl for a moment. "You're in Gryffindor, aren't you? I think I remember you from their Quidditch team ..." Kinsey looked more intently at the girl before she realized what she was doing. "Sorry. You're the seeker, aren't you?" Yeah, because now she didn't look like a stalker. She wasn't, Kinsey just loved Quidditch and if she wasn't mistaken, CJ took over as seeker when Dustin left. That wasn't something Kinsey was likely to forget anytime soon. 

Then the girl asked what she was doing outside alone and Kinsey felt another wave of concern leave the girl. She smiled as she looked across the courtyard again, "I just wanted some fresh air," she answered, this time telling the truth. "It's so nice and peaceful here when there aren't a million students running around to get to their classes on time." She looked back at CJ. "Don't you ever just want a few moments on your own?" Kinsey asked curiously. She couldn't be the only one that wanted that, could she?

@rissa88

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CJ was jolted from her quiet observation with the question, and she instantly berated herself for getting lost in thought again. It wasn't helping this girl's unease, and that was the entire point of coming to talk to her, so the Seeker resolved to get with the program.

"Honestly, I'm a little buzzed," she grinned truthfully, before gesturing down at her workout clothes. "Hoping a run will burn off some energy.

She nodded as Kinsey confirmed being in sixth year as well. "Radical," was the simple grin and comment that came from being informed that the girl was an Eagle. CJ had never much cared for the house rivalries; as long as someone was friendly with her, they'd get the same courtesy, and she could respect anyone who deserved her respect. Her grin widened as Kinsey recognized her from the team, pride and a little bit of humility filling her. "That's me," she confirmed with a rueful grin. "Do you play?"

CJ listened carefully to the girl's answer to her question, relaxing marginally when she didn't catch a hint of deception from the Ravenclaw. For a second, when the girl asked if she ever wanted a moment to herself, CJ considered making light of it, cracking some joke to relieve the tension, but something told her that the girl in front of her didn't need false humour or anything of the like. She needed something that was a little more real.

So, without really giving herself a chance to think about, CJ nodded, a soft smile stealing over her features.

"More than you know," she answered frankly, her voice soft and gentle, but with more than a hint of understanding. "There's something about getting a real, honest moment when you're not surrounded by people who need to keep up an image."


@kinsey

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Kinsey couldn't help but smile when the girl said she was buzzed. That was ... definitely one way of describing the energy that she apparently had. She nodded, "That sounds like it should work," she almost told her to leave right then, but Kinsey had a feeling that the other girl wouldn't leave ... especially if she told her to. That probably wouldn't go over well at all. 

Apparently CJ liked old words. Or maybe this was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. How was Kinsey supposed to know? She hardly knew the girl at all. Knowing that she was a seeker seemed to break the ice a little bit, but then CJ was asking if Kinsey played Quidditch. Kinsey shrugged, "I like it, but I haven't made it onto the team yet." Hopefully she'd be able to make it next year, since it would be her last chance, but Kinsey was trying to not get her hopes up too high. She didn't want to get disappointed again. 

Kinsey waited after her question, feeling more stressed than she expected. Why was she so nervous about a silly question? Then she realized that she wanted someone else to feel what she was, to understand. It wasn't long at all before CJ was smiling and saying that she did understand and then going into more detail about the whole thing. Kinsey felt a smile cover her own face, to her surprise. "I'm glad I'm not the only one," she told CJ honestly. She paused for a moment, then added, "You don't have to stay and talk to me here. You can go on your run to get your energy out. I'm just ... I don't want to bore you," she explained.

@rissa88

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"Better than trying nothing, is trying something, right?" she grinned, shrugging slightly. Kinsey was smiling now, but there was something about that smile that struck CJ as odd. It was a look that said Kinsey knew something she wasn't telling, and natural suspicion hummed underneath her skin. 

Distracted by the Quiddich talk, she nodded her head in understanding when the Eagle mentioned not being on the team yet. "Well, if you want, you and I could practice some times, until you can tryout next?" CJ was thankfully quite diverse with her position; an undoubted advantage to having only one scrimmage mate during the holidays; so even though Seeking was her niche, it didn't mean she couldn't help someone to Chase or Keep or Beat.

At the girl's small smile, CJ tuned back into the conversation, realizing that her agreement might have sort of helped the lonely Eagle. When Kinsey proposed she leave so as not to get bored, though, the Seeker shook her head firmly. "I'm quite happy right where I am, Kinsey," she replied honestly. "I find some time with friends to be equally as soothing as a run sometimes."


@kinsey

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Kinsey nodded firmly at CJ's question. "Exactly. Trying something is always the best plan," she agreed, "especially when you know yourself well enough to know what you're in the mood for." That was Kinsey's issue. Sometimes when she got in an odd mood she couldn't figure out what she needed to do to get herself to calm down.

Kinsey smiled when CJ mentioned that they could practice together if she wanted and Kinsey smiled. "I would love that!" Quite honestly, she hadn't had someone to practice with all year so the invitation was a great one for her. "But I don't really know if I'm any good, so don't expect a lot," she warned with a small shrug. She remembered Ravenclaw's old Quidditch captain (Ethan Johnson) telling her that she was agile and fast and needed to use that to her advantage, but they hadn't gotten to fly much together before he died. 

Kinsey wasn't expecting CJ to shake her head and say she wanted to stay. She kind of thought that the girl would jump at the chance to leave, but apparently not. Well that was interesting. "That's good to know," she said with a smile. "Well do you want to talk about anything specific ... or do something?" Kinsey asked curiously. She had no idea what they could do, but she was willing to try out anything.

@rissa88

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"That's the difficult part, sometimes," CJ nodded, smiling, responding intuitively. "Not so much knowing enough of yourself to say what you need, but rather trusting yourself to know."

That was something she used to struggle with, before she forced herself to rely on her instincts. Or, more accurately, her dad forced her to rely on her instincts. Salem Nicolo was of the firm opinion that one's own instincts was one of the few completely trustworthy things in this world; it was actually the only thing the man ever trusted, outside of himself and his daughter.

CJ was pulled from her thoughts by Kinsey's genuinely excited response. The Seeker's own lips lifted in response; it always made her chuffed to be able to make someone smile. "Hey, don't sell yourself short!" she admonished the girl playfully, eyes sparkling. "I'm sure you're a great player... but a little inside secret?" The Seeker leaned in, as if she was about to divulge something top secret. "We're actually all pretty bad when we start out." CJ laughed, leaning back with a grin. "Quiddich, like anything else, just needs a little practice. With time, you'll get comfortable," she promised.

A thoughtful look came upon the Seeker's face when Kinsey asked if she wanted to do something specific. She honestly hadn't thought that far ahead; just figured her time could be better spent making a new friend, than running. Her body was already quite toned, and besides, Kinsey had seemed like she'd needed a friendly face.

"I'm up for anything," CJ shrugged, crossing her legs underneath her where she sat. "Not counting a hike up a mountain or catching a crime lord, though," she joked, "that's my weekend plan."


@kinsey - sorry for the late reply lovely! <3

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Kinsey gave a slow nod at CJ's words. The girl had a point. Trusting herself. It seemed to be a thing that Kinsey was constantly in debate over. Not necessarily when it came to knowing what she was in the mood to do, but just in general. Should she trust her gift, should she not? It was always such a big question to her. 

Kinsey shrugged when CJ told her to not sell herself short. "Well I don't want to talk myself up and then not get a position on the team," she explained, wondering if that really made sense. She would try her best and practice and she would definitely work hard to make the Quidditch team, but she wasn't stellar. However, she smiled when the Gryffindor girl shared her secret. "Well that's good to know," she answered honestly. "I've been practicing a while. Now I'm just hoping that it pays off." As always. She didn't expect herself to really reach the level of some people who played the game, like her brother Dustin who was simply amazing, but she hoped to be good enough to get on the team and really have fun with it.

CJ obviously had to think a bit when Kinsey asked her what she wanted to do. When the girl answered that she was ready for anything, Kinsey held back a groan. She asked that question because she didn't want to make a decision. Was she actually going to have to or could she cajole the girl into choosing something. "Don't worry, those are definitely not on my to-do list for the night," Kinsey responded confidently. Then she hesitated ... "Do you have any fun ideas? I'm not really creative when it comes to figuring out things to do." Maybe that would work.

@rissa88