first impressions | past

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

THE GROUNDS OF ILVERMORNY WERE VAST, but Eli had learned where best to avoid detection. Especially when he was playing hooky. A pastime Eli was very fond of indeed. Especially when he had D.A.D.A. He was just terrible at it. Eli didn't have an offensive bone in his body. At least, when it came to spells. He was just better off not going at all, he'd reasoned. Though all of his professors seemed to differ on this mentality.

Fiddling with the golden knot on his robes, Eli reentered the school hallways just before lunch. Classes were still in progress, but he'd timed it just five minutes before the bells sounded. That way, if he was seen out of class now, it was less suspicious. And worse yet, he wouldn't be caught crossed the courtyard when everyone else was inside, stuffing their faces.

It was perfect, or so he'd thought. He turned a sharp corner, still tugging at the fiddly knot on his robes, smelling of the outdoors. A leaf sticking out behind one ear, where'd it gotten caught in his tangled sweep of brown hair. And ran directly in to another person. "Oof," He grunted, grabbing the wall beside him and blindly reaching out with his other hand to steady whoever it was he'd barrelled in to. 'Please don't be a professor, please don't be a professor...' He opened up his screwed shut eyes. 

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Ashley was an exceptionally good student. She enjoyed school and doing better than her peers, being a very competitive person in general. Most of the time that fact was somewhat hidden, but when it came to grades and doing well, she always wanted to be the best. That didn't mean that Ashley was the best, but she definitely tried for it. She wanted to be looked up to in every possible way, even though most others didn't feel that way. 

Today she was feeling rather poorly, however, and was released a few minutes early from class so she could go to the med wing. Headaches were a somewhat common problem for Ashley (generally caused by stress), but today her teacher noticed her being distracted and sent her away. What she wasn't expecting was to run into someone when turning a corner. She reached for the wall to try and steady herself, but the person was already steadying her, having reached out and taken hold of her arm. She glared, her head pounding more fiercely now. "You should watch where you're going," she said angrily, even before she looked at the person. It was a boy. Did she know him? Did she care?

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

ELI'S PANIC RECEDED, but was quickly replaced by irritation. It wasn't a professor, which was most certainly a relief. However, it was a face that he knew. In fact, she shared a class or two with him. If he wasn't entirely mistaken. He'd reached out to steady her and him, but one look at her face erased any concern he had. She was glaring at him. Eli immediately let go of her shoulder, as if it were on fire.

"Hey, you ran in to me as much as I ran in to you, Ashley." He retorted, because he knew her name in passing and conversation. Eli was a bit of a social floater, and they had some mutual friends. Though she didn't look at him with the same kind of familiarity. "So I could say the same thing to you..." He ended with a mumble, still reaching up to tug at that god awful golden knot on his robes. He wanted out of it before it was obvious that he'd been outside. 

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Once Ashley got a good look at the guy, she realized that she did know him. It was Eli ... right? They actually had a few classes together, she remembered. He got annoyed back at her and Ashley rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah," she muttered under her breath. Then her eyes narrowed. Wasn't he supposed to be in class right now. "Aren't you supposed to be in class? What've you been up to?" She didn't mean to, but her voice sounded a little bit impressed. She hadn't really ever paid attention to him before, but she didn't peg him as the kind of guy that would just skip class. Hmm ... she'd have to wait and find out why he hadn't been in class. He could have a lame excuse, and if that was the case she definitely would not be impressed.

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

ELI WAS GENERALLY A FRIENDLY GUY, but he had a couple of sharp edges. Like any kid, he got defensive when Ashley had immediately blamed their collision on him. Though he had blindly turned the corner, so had she, and he told her as much. His tone a little snippy, from being caught where he shouldn't be and reprimanded for something he didn't really feel guilty about.

She seemed to recognise him when he said her name. Eyes narrowing shrewdly. Suddenly, Eli wished he hadn't stopped at all. Never mind steadying her. He shifted uncomfortably - guiltily. Not looking at Ashley, but detecting something in her tone. Of what he wasn't sure.

"Would you... believe me if I said I was?" He said tentatively, flashing a grin at her, mischief in his eyes. She'd caught him with that question, though he wasn't prepared to conjure a lie. Eli was a terrible liar when confronted. And then it occurred to him that if he wasn't in class, then she wasn't in class. "Actually, shouldn't I ask you the same thing?" He raised a single brow, his smirk challenging. 

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Ooooh this was telling. He looked guilty now and wasn't looking at her. Ash immediately knew that she was right, he hadn't been in class. She was still a little impressed, though she wasn't about to admit it to anyone. Good thing she wouldn't have to. Chances were that no one would know about this meeting except for the two of them. The nice thing was, he was distracting her from the throbbing in her temples. 

Then he looked up for her, his expression clearly up to no good when he asked if she'd believe him if he said he was in class. She laughed. Not a mocking laugh, but definitely an entertained laugh. She shook her head, "No way. I saw that look on your face just now. Besides, I actually was in class," she giggled a little, still appreciating the joke. Then he asked why she wasn't in class and her smile weakened as another sharp pang in her head reminded her why. She shouldn't have laughed that hard, now it was just going to get worse. She wrinkled her nose and grimaced at him. "I got sent out of class," she told him with a bit of a shrug. Then she decided she might as well confess it all the way. "I get bad headaches sometimes, so the Professor told me to go to the medical wing." Her tone was grudging now. She hated weaknesses, and the chance that anyone would perceive her as weak. Stupid migraines. Then she had an idea and smirked at him, cocking her head to the side curiously. "Do you want to accompany me? No one would question you not being in class ..." Why was she inviting him along? Well, he did make her laugh ... ow. There was another pain. Ugh.

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

WELL AT LEAST SHE HADN'T DECLARED SHE WAS GOING TO RAT HIM OUT, Eli thought. In fact, the small and suspect smile on her face spoke of something completely different when Eli finally looked back at her. She was either gearing up to use this new information against him, or she was a little impressed. Eli didn't skip to impress people, but he didn't mind the flattery of it if that were the case. But if it was the former... well he was screwed.

"Worth a try," Eli said with a large shrug, not willing to stretch the feeble lie. He was no good at it anyway. But at least she'd laughed, that was a good sign, he reasoned. Though he was quick to turn her questions around on to her. In an attempt to even the playing field in the event that she went rogue and ratted him out. But... she didn't...

"Oh," Eli said, feeling sorry that he'd snapped when she was clearly in pain. He hadn't known. "Sorry..." He muttered, shifting in place. She had a perfectly good reason for leaving class and he had absolutely nothing on her. Which seemed about right given his luck.

However, Eli sensed the abrupt shift in the air when Ashley tilted her head conspiratorially. He frowned curiously, wondering what was going through her head to make her face set devilishly. This could only go one of two ways. She surprised him by throwing him a bone.

"Yeah..." He scoffed obviously, a smile on his face as he moved to stand at Ashley's side. "Do you want me to put on a full show?" He joked, pushing hair from out of his eyes as he turned to look at Ashley. "Help you stand, carry you like a wounded maiden?" Eli was a terrible liar, but a great story teller. It was a fine line, he thought. One he danced often in an attempt to stay out of trouble. "Oh, and what's the catch?" He added, thinking about why on Earth Ashley would help him. They'd never been friends, exactly. "Are you friends now?" He said with a smirk, but he wouldn't mind if it were suddenly true. 

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Ashley actually laughed when he said it was worth a try. What was it about this guy that she found so funny and why hadn't she discovered it before? She shook her head, "There was never any question of me believing that," she told him, partly to tease him but also partly because it was true. She'd been in class. He wasn't. 

Ashley shrugged when he apologized. "It's not your fault. They actually can't figure out what's causing them, so I just go to the hospital wing and they give me a potion that makes it go away." Unfortunately, they wanted to know how often she needed the potion, so they wouldn't just give her a bottle or two of it. Stupid healers. 

He moved to stand beside her, and Ashley was almost positive he was going to tease her somewhat. He didn't disappoint. She grinned and shrugged, "Whatever makes you feel more useful," she teased, "but once we get to the medical wing, you'd need to put me down. They know it's not that severe." He asked what the catch was and Ashley paused a moment, long enough for him to add a question about them being friends. Now, that was an interesting thought. She'd never interacted with the guy before today, but he was interesting and she appreciated his teasing and jokes. Was that a bad thing? Ashley shrugged a little, "No catch." Then she thought about his second question. "I mean ... unless you don't want us to be ... I wouldn't mind." Ashley didn't have much in the way of friends and the friends she did have were arrogant and critical, which normally was her as well, but she liked Eli's easygoing attitude. She liked how easy it was to be around him. Would he want to be her friend? She watched him, suddenly curious.

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

THOUGH ELI KNEW HIS ATTEMPT WAS POOR, he hadn't really thought it would succeed to begin with. He was being brazen, testing the limits of their brief exchange. Eli, by nature, liked to test the limits of those around him. Not with cruelty, but curiosity and humour. Kissing his teeth, he shrugged. "Maybe I didn't want you to." He challenged, his right brow twitching upward.

Though his demeanour quickly shifted to concern. He hadn't known that. He'd have thought it'd be a rumour at least, a passing story about chronic headaches, but he hadn't. And she didn't really show it, either. It just showed how little they know about each other. "Sounds rough," He said tentatively, shoving his hands in to his pockets and lifting his shoulders up around his ears. Eli was happy to eventually shift back to an easy back and forth. The relief of having an excuse now lightening his manner exponentially.

"Hmm..." He gave it some thought, genuinely considering how funny it would be if he carried her. He decided it might be rather embarrassing if he tried and he couldn't. "I could probably carry you on my back!" He said with an open smile, quickly falling in to a snicker.

Though in honesty, Eli hadn't been expecting the blatant honesty in her following reply about 'friends'. He felt a bit guilty for prodding her. "Why wouldn't I want us to be friends?" He said, frowning softly. She was funnier than he'd imagined, and pretty too. Not at all like he'd expected, given her friend group. Of which included individuals that routinely criticised and ridiculed. "You're not bad for a mean girl..." He joked, lifting his chin up and out of view, but swivelling his eyes to watch her out the corner, tensing as he expected to be shoved. 

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Ashley wasn’t entirely sure why she thought he was so funny, but she did. She shook her head and rolled her eyes at him. ”If you didn’t want me to believe it, then why did you say it in the first place?” she turned her head to the side as she watched him closely. Was he trying to hide something?

He closed off when she admitted what was wrong with her. Most people did that, which was why she didn’t often tell people about going to the medical wing. She didn’t want or need their pity. Her expression grew a little harder as she looked away from him. ”It’s fine. I’ll be just fine.” She looked back at him after a moment, hoping he wasn’t pitying her.

Eli brightened up as he decided what to do. Ashley studied him, trying to guess what he was going to suggest. When he suggested his back her mouth fell open in surprise and she took a step back. ”Your back?” she repeated. That wasn’t very refined. Then again, she did say he could do what he wanted. At his snicker, she glared and glanced around before shoving his shoulder. ”You are a punk,” she announced.

Ashley merely shrugged when he asked why he wouldn’t want them to be friends. Did he honestly not know who she spent most of her time with? He didn’t seem like the kind of person that would like that sort of thing, since he wasn’t in her friend group. His next words answered her thoughts. He did know who she was. She thought he was teasing, but felt a little defensive all the same. She swallowed nervously, ”You caught me in a weak moment I guess ... and you’re kind of funny.” She looked over at him again and realized she was taking him too seriously. She pushed him again, ”Don’t make me change my mind,” she tried to seem angry, but couldn’t keep the smile out of her voice.

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

ELI DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING, HE DIDN'T HAVE AN answer. He simply shrugged his shoulders, smirking as he bit at the skin of his bottom lip. Not everything a person did required an eloquent and well thought out answer, Eli thought. And plus, he kind of liked the idea that his silence would poke at Ashley, his smile reflecting that thought in its crookedness.

And though he'd stumbled slightly at the mention of her illness, he thought he recovered well. It wasn't that he lacked compassion or empathy, but more that he'd been surprised to find Ashley in need of it at all. In all the time he'd known her - or rather, of her, he'd never seen her falter from that group. Never really seen her as anything but an extension of it, really; a prop. Until now.

Though when he'd offered his back it was with very little consideration of his capabilities, he would have tried if she'd accepted. It would have been funny, at the very least. Hence the snicker. He let himself be shoved because of it, pretending to stumble theatrically before side stepping back to her side. "Wow... that's the meanest thing you've ever said to me..." He said with wide eyes, pretending to wipe a tear. It most certainly wasn't the meanest thing, but that just made it all the more amusing to Eli.

Though Eli was under no illusions in regards to their conflicting social circles, to him it wasn't an obstacle. Not when it came to friendship, which he served out in great overabundance, with very little consideration as who and why. Ashley did not seem to operate under the same lack of discretion, but at least she hadn't cut him off at the knees. That was a good sign, he thought. Better than any he'd been given by her or her lackeys in all six years of his life at Ilvermorny.

The sound of her voice unravelled Eli's tensed form. He'd only meant it as a joke, but she seemed to take him far too seriously.  But she seemed to recover before he could apologise, pushing him weakly. He didn't stumble this time, just allowed her to make a fuss out of his - perhaps poorly executed - joke. When she was done, he reached
for her.

"Hey..." Eli said softly, tugging at the sleeve of her robes to get her attention. "I was joking..." Though she was a 'mean girl', he figured he shouldn't have said it so bluntly. Some people didn't know what they were. Eli knew he wasn't smart, but that didn't mean he enjoyed hearing it. "See? Funny man..." He joked, pointing at himself with raised brows. He smiled to see if it would take the strain out of her face. "

"So don't change your mind, okay?" He said, nostrils flaring as he gave a breathy chuckle. "We're friends no, no take backs allowed... Partners in crime even..." He said with a conspiratorial smile. And with that he began walking at an increased speed, a leaf falling out of his robe as he practically skipped ahead of Ashley. "C'mon now!" He called over his shoulder. "It's a medical emergency!" This he called through cupped hands, the words echoing through the deserted hallways. 

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

Ashley couldn't help but wonder, as her conversation with Eli continued, if he always joked around this much. Was everything a game to him or something? Then again, there were glimpses of a serious nature every once in a while. They didn't seem to last long though and Ashley started trying to decide if that was a bad thing or not. She was leaning toward not. 

She scoffed when he pretended to be upset at her calling him a punk, almost positive that he was pretending. "You could say that about almost anything I say to you now," she retorted, "since we've never really spoken before today." Granted, she might have said other things to him while with her friends, but there was nothing she actually remembered. He probably would though. 

He started pulling on her robes and Ashley turned her attention to him, her eyebrows furrowing a bit. She wasn't really used to anyone touching her, even her robes. Most people preferred to keep their distance when around her. Why was this guy so different? And why didn't it bug her more? He said he was joking, calling himself a funny man and she let the corners of her lips turn up into the smallest of smiles. She rolled her eyes, almost turning away when he spoke again, telling her she couldn't change her mind now. She faced him, nodding and smiling a little wider now. She was a bit surprised at the fact that she was looking forward to having a friend that wasn't necessarily part of her circle. Maybe she wouldn't have to pretend as much around him. "Partners now, is it?" she teased before he started heading down the hall. "An emergency?" she called after him. "What makes you think this is an emergency?" Ashley followed after him quickly, glancing around to make sure no one was watching. "Do we have to go so fast?" she whined, to see how he would react mostly. And she didn't really want to run around. 

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

ELI PREFERRED THE JOY IN LIFE. ANIMALS, plants. Something as simple as a run. And it was because of these singular passions that he failed elsewhere. Why he would always prefer to joke first than fight back. Ashley, however, seemed intent on picking apart anything he said. Which was a big mistake because what he said was often one dimensional.

"Stop giving me ideas..." He said with a smirk, shaking his head. The smiling lines on his face deepening. But the honesty in what followed struck him. He stopped smiling, licking his lips. That was true. This was indeed their first proper conversation. "We've definitely spoken before..." He muttered under his breath, brows twitching. Suddenly unwilling to laugh it off. It was there in the air, their differences. But he left it at that, not willing to delve deeper and ruin something that felt good. Real.

In his effort to shift things back to how they were, he hopped forward. Gaining on her before turning and turning to walk backwards. "Yup!" He said, popping the p. "We're in this together now, kid." He pointed his finger at her, thumb cocked like a gun. "If I go down, you're going down with me." And then he jerked his hand as if to fire at her.

Always full of energy, his shoes squeaked and skidded on the floor. "Your head..." He laughed, shaking his head as if it were obvious. "I have to keep up my cover as your escort." He was jogging backwards in front of her now, so when she whined he came to a full stop and she had no choice but to barrel right in to him. Again. Not entirely his intention, but he still placed both palms on her upper arms anyways. Like he'd meant it.

"No, we don't." He said, pulling his brows down soberly. "We have to run!" And then he was pulling her, turning to her side and slipping his hand down to grip hers carelessly so that they could sprint. Eli always loved to run. The adrenaline, the swift air. It always made him feel better. He wondered if it would do the same for Ashley. At the very least it would be a distraction. And plus, the bells would go soon signalling the end of the class.

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

He was a tease. That's what Ashley was deciding, that he seemed to want to find the positive aspect to any situation and enjoy whatever came at him. He smiled too much for him to not have that kind of attitude. Except, he stopped smiling when she mentioned them talking before. Suddenly she felt guilty for whatever she'd done or said to him. It was an uncommon feeling, because Ashley normally felt like she was always in the right no matter what the situation was. However, she didn't like the thought of her being mean to him. He was nice and happy and sincere. "I'm sorry," she said softly, knowing that it couldn't change whatever she'd done, but actually meaning it all the same. 

Then he was jumping away and walking backwards as he started to tease her again. She shook her head, though her small smile was returning again. It was hard to be upset or angry- even at herself- when she was around this guy. "I'm not going down, so don't worry about that, since I guess we are partners now." It was true. She'd do her best to keep him out of trouble if they ran into anyone on their way to the medical wing. She didn't expect that would happen though.

"How are you keeping cover as my escort when you're so far in front of me," she muttered to herself, grumbling. The next thing she knew, she was running into him and he was holding onto her arms. She looked up at him curiously. What was he doing now? She felt a smile coming, expecting a joke when he started saying no and ended with saying they had to run. She felt his hand leave her shoulder and grip hers loosely as he pulled her into a run. Ashley was no athlete, but he wasn't going too fast for her. She kept pace with him, surprised by the fact that she wasn't annoyed at him for making her run. Once again, she was glad no one was a witness to this whole exchange. Her friends would be furious. 

She tugged on his hand and stopped when they got close to the medical wing. Placing her free hand on the wall, she bent over again as she tried to catch her breath. After a minute, she rasped out, "You ... always run ... in the hallways?" Man, she needed to run more apparently. Or just not let him pull her into a run. At least being out of breath was a distraction from the headache. "Gimme ... a minute." She was so out of breath. He probably thought it was ridiculous. Wait. Why did she care what he thought?

Elijah Theron Fleming

[Elijah Theron Fleming]

only dust settles.

THOUGH ASHLEY HAD CERTAINLY PLAYED HER own part in Eli's occasional torment within their group, he struggled to see that when he was with her. It was confusing. One moment everything would be fine and the next he would be reminded. This was Ashley Fontaine. She was friends with Bianca. But his one track mind didn't see it that way when they were laughing together. She was just another friend. So why couldn't they just stick to that? Safe territory.

Shaking his head, Eli smiled softly. Not as bright as before, or as genuine, but he had no desire to seek some kind of verbal vengeance for things said and done. His acknowledgement of it had slipped out without warning. Unfiltered, as was everything he said and done. Eli was thrilled when she went along with his madness instead.

Back to smiling and joking as if the last two minutes hadn't occurred at all. "Good answer, Miss Fontaine!" Eli exclaimed like a game show host. She had an answer for just about anything. He hadn't known that about her before. And then they were running. He hadn't considered why, or what he'd have done if she'd have refused. That wasn't the way Eli's brain worked. He'd simply acted. Luckily, she ran at his side. Not quite as fast, Eli slowed his pace a little. Lanky legs capable of consuming more space than she was.

But, eventually, Ashley slowed to a stop. He whooped, palming his side and laughing breathlessly. Casting his eyes across to her, she was red faced and a little shiny. He thought it looked kind of cute, actually. Her hair, which was usually pristine and carefully groomed, stood slightly static around her head.

"I wish!" He gasped, licking dry lips. "I'd fly down these hallways if they'd let me." Waving an arm at the empty hallway in front of him. He didn't even think about the fact that they were both panting. He was used to it. But when she asked for a minute his brows furrowed. "Oh, yeah of course." He told her, turning to give her his full attention. He reached out to pat her shoulder, wondering suddenly if it had been a good idea after all. "Slow and steady," He instructed, moving his hand to lightly rub her back.

"One time," He began, turning his gaze to an ornamental mask hung on the wall. "I ran until I passed out." He laughed like it was funny, shaking his head. "I've even vomited once!" Eli didn't always understand limitation. Especially his own. "So, take all the time you need."

@ashley

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!