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last online Mar 29, 2024 1:18:41 GMT -7
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Jul 29, 2017 1:09:51 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2017 1:09:51 GMT -7
Merlin, CJ was having a blast at this thing.
Anyone who knew her, knew that carnivals and such fun were not a fixture in the Gryffindor's life. Since she was five years old, CJ's life consisted of human dummies, sparring techniques, dodging practice and only the occasional Quiddich scrimmage. This wasn't to say that she didn't still find a way to enjoy said childhood... but all the same, she was making full enjoyment of the carnival now.
Bouncing on the balls of her feet while waiting for some friends to purchase their candy ("Merlin above, Ceej, the absolute last thing you need right now is sugar!") the Seeker cast her eyes around her, a bright grin forming on her lips when she spotted a familiar face.
"Hey Anna!" she yelled before bounding over. "How's Hogwarts' favourite champion? Good to see you're taking a break, mate, you've been running yourself ragged!"
@annelise
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last online Mar 29, 2024 1:18:41 GMT -7
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Jul 29, 2017 22:17:53 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2017 22:17:53 GMT -7
Anna hadn't ever been to a carnival, but this was fun! It was truly a great way to forget about her studies and the task and her worries and just relax. With all the games, rides, and food, Anna hardly knew what she should do, but she still found herself moving around and trying new things. So far, she hadn't run into anything that she didn't like. This was a blast!
She was walking around, trying to decide what she should do next when she heard someone calling her name loudly. Anna spun around and smiled. "CJ!" she called back, moving towards the girl. She grinned and shrugged, "Taking the day off from being a champion," she responded cheerfully. Anna really couldn't remember the last moment when she felt so free. She nodded at CJ's comment about herself. "I know. I'm glad they had this carnival. It's hard to avoid something this fun, especially for a task that's not coming for a while." She looked around them."So what's your favorite thing to do at carnivals? This is my first one," she admitted. Looking at CJ, it didn't appear like it was the girl's first time. She looked completely at ease.
@rissa88
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last online Mar 29, 2024 1:18:41 GMT -7
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Aug 2, 2017 1:22:36 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2017 1:22:36 GMT -7
CJ gave an undignified little snort at Anna's comment about taking the day off. "If anyone deserved or needed a day off, it's you, Banana," she quipped with a grin, deliberately using the nickname she'd kept for her friend that she was never sure amused or exasperated her.
"Yeah," she nodded, a little bit of somber creeping up on her. "Not to mention, I think we all need a little bit of fun to forget about what's going on outside Hogwarts' walls."
It was true. The carnival served as a wonderful distraction to those fortunate enough; unlike CJ, whose father and ingrained military mindset still managed to catalogue all possible risks, attack vantage points and escape routes, before even starting to enjoy the carnival. Even bouncing with excitement, a fraction of CJ's brain remained on high alert, and she hated it... but she wasn't about to bring her friend down with her.
Turning her attention back to the Hogwarts champion, CJ grinned. "My first as well, actually!" she admitted cheerfully. "My favourite's been the rides so far, though... the candy comes a close second, but I've been banned from having anything that'll add to my hyperactivity," she added glumly, sending an exaggerated pout to her friend in a bid for sympathy.
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last online Mar 29, 2024 1:18:41 GMT -7
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Aug 3, 2017 7:48:39 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2017 7:48:39 GMT -7
Anna smiled back when CJ said that she deserved a day off. "Well good! I'm glad that you won't give me a hard time for doing my best to forget about the tournament today," Anna teased back. Really though, she spent so much of her time and effort worrying and preparing and studying for the tournament that the idea of a day without any of that sounded ... marvelous.
When her friend grew a little more serious, so did Anna. She nodded in agreement, "In addition to all the things that have happened here lately." Over the last two years. Thankfully there weren't attacks this year, and Anna hoped it continued that way. She looked around, noting a few aurors stationed around the carnival. "But they're taking precautions so things should be fine today," Anna added.
Then the attitude lifted again and Anna smiled back. "That makes me feel better. I'm not the only one who's new to this sort of thing," she winked at her friend and then shrugged. "I haven't gone on any rides yet," Anna admitted. "I've been too busy eating popcorn and observing the games." Not that Anna was scared of the rides. She definitely was not. She just didn't see any that she wanted to go on alone. She laughed at CJ's comment about hperactivity. "Well, if you're going to be hyperactive, you might as well do it at a carnival," Anna teased. She felt lighter than she had in ages.
@rissa88
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last online Mar 29, 2024 1:18:41 GMT -7
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Aug 5, 2017 6:02:32 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2017 6:02:32 GMT -7
"Would I ever?" CJ asked with a grin, throwing an arm around her friend's shoulders. It was well known among their House that CJ was always up for mischief and fun - and Anna would be well privy to that information, given that she knew how close CJ was to her cousin, Hugo - so it was pretty much unheard of for the Seeker to pick work over play. That wasn't to say she didn't work hard when the time came; on the contrary, she was a pretty good student. But she was also a firm believer in seizing the day, and if there was anyone who needed to take a break, as she rightly pointed out, it was Anna.
Nodding solemnly as her friend mentioned the extra precautions that were taken at the fair today, CJ glanced around at the Aurors. She recognized a lot of them; unsurprising, given that her father had worked with one or more of them at some point. That thought in mind, she grimaced slightly. "Just glad my dad's not among those 'precautions', I tell you," she joked lightly, aiming to lift the somber mood that had befallen the friends.
"You can go on the rides with me, then!" CJ beamed when Anna admitted that she hadn't been on a lot of the rides yet. She looped an arm with her friend, practically vibrating with excitement. "And I prefer the term 'excitable' much better than 'hyperactive', just so you know," she teased right back, huffing with mock pretension. "Which ride would you like to go on, first? Or, wait!" CJ stopped dead in her tracks, literally bouncing on her toes as she turned to face her friend, eyes glimmering almost manically with sudden enthusiasm. "We could start with that!" The Lion pointed imperiously at the tallest, most formidable looking ride at the carnival. "Everyone else doesn't wanna go with me, and I can't track down Hugh," she shrugged, by way of explanation.
@annelise
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last online Mar 29, 2024 1:18:41 GMT -7
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Aug 5, 2017 9:42:25 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2017 9:42:25 GMT -7
Anna laughed and shook her head when CJ wrapped her arm around her shoulders, asking if she would ever tease her for trying to forget about the tournament. "Of course not," Anna said with mock seriousness. Of course, CJ was a bit unpredictable, always out for a good time, so whether or not she would tease Anna over something like that was uncertain. Still, Anna had fun with the girl no matter if she was being teased or not. At least at the moment she seemed to just want fun.
CJ mentioned that they should be glad her dad wasn't here and Anna looked at her curiously. "And why would that be, if you don't mind me asking?" she teased. Anna didn't want to make her friend uncomfortable, but she also didn't know anything about her dad. Was he overly protective or annoying or ... Anna didn't know. Thus the question.
The rides. Anna was down for going on rides with CJ, and the other girl was obviously super excited for them to do it together. She laughed ad rolled her eyes. "Well you are the one who mentioned being "hyperactive" first. I was just trying to go along with you," Anna shot back with a smile as she walked with her friend. She opened her mouth to choose a ride they should go on, but CJ suddenly froze and then started bouncing. Clearly she was excited about something. Anna chuckled and then looked to where she pointed. Her eyebrows rose, but then she looked back to her friend. "I'll do it!" She answered. After all, following the first and second tasks, what was a ride? Nothing to be scared of, she was sure. "Lead the way CJ! I'm ready," she said, starting to walk forward even as she said it. They would have fun on this, she was sure. It looked like the kind of ride Anna would love.
@rissa88
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last online Mar 29, 2024 1:18:41 GMT -7
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Aug 18, 2017 17:22:09 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2017 17:22:09 GMT -7
CJ grinned easily at the question about her dad, years of experience allowing her to mask that split second, initial hesitation. There was a reason she never spoke about her father; not because she was ashamed of him, or some rubbish like that, but rather because she was fully aware of how unorthodox her childhood was. She didn't particularly relish anyone finding out exactly how unconventional she and her dad actually was.
"Just because he's a total dork who would try to put a shield charm on me every time I board one of those rides," she answered lightly, rolling her eyes to add to the effect. It had the benefit of being true, without revealing that he probably would have also had her running drills instead of enjoying the carnival.
CJ laughed at her friend's ready retort to the 'hyperactive' jibe. "Fair enough, mate," she allowed with a grin. The Seeker literally whooped when Anna agreed to go on the big roller-coaster with her; she honestly shouldn't have expected anything less from their fearless champ, though. "That's my girl!" CJ beamed, pulling her fellow Lion with her as she made towards the line. "You know, the muggles can be terribly disappointing at times, but they've certainly got some things right."
@annelise
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last online Mar 29, 2024 1:18:41 GMT -7
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Aug 18, 2017 19:56:37 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2017 19:56:37 GMT -7
CJ was smiling at her question and Anna was glad. At least that didn't mean she offended her friend. Sometimes Anna said things that she shouldn't. She had a habit of letting her mouth run away with her, but CJ didn't seem to mind. She smiled at CJ's explanation for why she didn't want her father there. "Well at least you know he cares about you and making sure you're safe," Anna answered. She wasn't meaning to insult her own father, but she was. She knew her father cared about her, but he had a lousy way of showing it. The two of them couldn't get together without getting into an argument over something or other. It was ridiculous.
Obviously, her friend was excited to go on the roller coaster and Anna was excited as well. She didn't really know what to expect from the roller coaster, but she was excited about it. She grinned back at CJ. "I might freak out on there. Don't judge me for freaking out if I do ..." Anna just didn't know what to expect. She was sure it would be fun because CJ was excited and knew what she was doing. At least, she seemed like she did. Anna hurried with her to the big ride. It looked intimidating. "So what is this, exactly?" Anna asked as the two of them stood in line.
@rissa88
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last online Mar 29, 2024 1:18:41 GMT -7
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Aug 19, 2017 17:04:26 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2017 17:04:26 GMT -7
Anna's comment about her father caring about her safety, made CJ stop for a single second.
It was on the tip of her tongue to tell her friend to be careful of what she was envious of; her father cared about her safety so much that he was willing to compromise everything, including but not limited to CJ's childhood. He'd left her with a commanding officer instead of a dad, and a boatload of repressed feelings and unanswered questions instead of a shoulder when her mother died. All in the name of preparing her to be ready for any attack.
"Grass is always greener, mate," she settled on eventually, sending Anna a wan smile that held a grain of intensity in an otherwise offhanded comment.
But today wasn't about psychoanalyzing her relationship with her father. Today was about having fun, which was why she allowed herself to laugh when her friend starting talking about freaking out. "Are you kidding me?" she asked teasingly, when Anna warned her not to judge. "I freak out monumentally at the start of all the rides! It's apparently all part of the muggle experience, since you know, they can't use softening charms. Or brooms."
The Lion waved a dismissive hand, showing that she wasn't really too concerned with the logistics of the ride; only that it had been ridden once she left the carnival.
"Well, it's basically just a series of twists and turns and loops... what makes this one different from the others, though, is that its faster, longer, and it hangs you upside down at the very top, before bringing you back down! Plus, the carriages rock while they're stationary," she added, beaming at her friend with a mischievous spark in her eyes.
@annelise
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last online Mar 29, 2024 1:18:41 GMT -7
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Aug 19, 2017 22:20:36 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2017 22:20:36 GMT -7
CJ seemed to pause for a moment when Anna said that her father cared about her safety and Anna wondered if CJ had something to say that. However, after a second, she smiled a rather intense smile and said that the grass was always greener. Anna shrugged, "Yeah, I guess you're right about that," she commented easily. She knew that lots of people had worse family situations than her. While she didn't know CJ's particularly situation, Anna wasn't going to push it either. Everyone had their own limits and struggles.
Anna laughed when CJ started to explain that she freaked out on all the rides. "Well that's good to know. I guess I won't worry about it," she said lightly, definitely feeling better about herself now. "Especially since I want to get the full experience." And she did. Anna wanted to have just as much fun doing this as muggles- and CJ- obviously did. If that meant freaking out, she would definitely let that happen.
She listened carefully and nodded slowly as her friend described the ride they were headed towards. "Sounds like a blast!" Anna enthused, moving towards the ride in question. "What are we doing just standing here, let's get in the line!" Anna loved doing things like this and was excited to be taking CJ along with her. Together, the two of them were definitely about to have a blast.
@rissa88
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last online Mar 29, 2024 1:18:41 GMT -7
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Sept 6, 2017 8:34:20 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2017 8:34:20 GMT -7
"Definitely," CJ nodded with a grin when Anna commented about not worrying about the freak out. "If you ask me, that's almost as fun as the actual ride! Being in the air is nothing for us, I mean, we play an entire sport in midair, but giving up control like that? That's the real thrill," the Seeker declared, cutting off her rambling with a rueful grin. "Okay," she conceded with a grin, "I guess I am a little hyperactive."
CJ threw her head back, laughing out loud at her friend's enthusiasm. "Merlin, mate, where were you two hours ago? This is the kind of exuberance I needed in my life!" she chuckled, brown eyes sparkling. It was true; her other friends weren't nearly as excited about today as she was, since most of them had been to muggle places like this before, and she couldn't for the life of her find Madison. Maybe her blonde best friend had hooked up with someone? That, CJ promptly decided, was the only excuse she would accept for being ditched.
"So, Miss Anna, what can you tell me?" CJ asked as the friends joined the line, a little more seriously now, even though her expression never changed. "Everything really okay?" CJ rarely showed her caring side, so the times she did, it went unsaid that she was completely sincere and serious. Now, it was telling of how much she worried about the other Gryffindor girl.
(@annelise)
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last online Mar 29, 2024 1:18:41 GMT -7
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Sept 6, 2017 19:45:49 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2017 19:45:49 GMT -7
Anna wasn't surprised at all when CJ agreed with her about the thrill of the ride being the best part. Then she laughed when her friend forgot that she didn't actually play Quidditch with them. "You mean you play the entire sport in midair. I mean, I'll join you every once-in-a-while, but I'm definitely not one of you when it comes to Quidditch," she teased. Sure, she liked the game, but she wasn't on the team, nor did she really want to be. Anna chuckled again when CJ admitted she was hyperactive. "That's not news to me," Anna shrugged.
It was so easy being with CJ and enjoying herself. She shrugged, "I dunno where I was ... but we were both missing out!" Honestly, this was one of the most exciting things she'd done in the last little while. It was out of the castle and just different and plain different. It was a relief and Anna was glad for it. Taking a break was definitely a good thing.
"What can I tell you about what?" Anna returned the question. She didn't want to go off talking about things that CJ wasn't interested in, not that the girl would say anything about that. Anna was pretty sure that the other Gryffindor would listen to anything she wanted to say without complain. Anna shrugged when she asked if things were really okay. "I don't know. I'm a little nervous about the tournament," Anna confessed. There weren't a lot of people she would actually tell that to, but she trusted CJ. "I mean, I know it's an honor and stuff, but I really am just excited to be done with it ... and really hoping I'll make it through the last task without any major injuries or anything." Hopefully CJ wouldn't judge her for that, or tell anyone else her secret. A few people already knew, like Oscar, but it kind of felt nice to tell someone else.
@rissa88
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