Numerica

A Cold Wind Blows...

Tjasa barely noticed when Chiudka placed a hand on her head. She stared at her father's body, as if she believed if she waited long enough she would wake up and this would all have been a horrible nightmare. As the immediate shock began to wear off, she began to weep, whispering "Please, just let me wake up. I'll be good, I promise! I'll do all my chores and I won't yell at Papa when he tracks soot into the cottage, and I won't wander so far in the woods any more, and I'll mind my own business and everything else I'm supposed to do....Please!"

She instinctively looked up when Chiudka called her name. Chiudka's request confused her at first. Why would Chiudka need Grandpa Kisel's bag more than Grandpa Kisel? After a moment, she understood, and nodded. She shakily stood up, realizing as she did so that the cloak she had worked so hard on was now ruined by blood stains. The second after she thought that she wondered what was wrong with her. Papa was ... was dead, Grandpa and Grandma probably were as well, and she was worried about a stupid cloak?

Tjasa took off running, telling herself that if she hurried, maybe Chiudka could help at least some people. She tried not to notice anything on the way to Grandpa Kisel's cottage. She didn't know enough to help anyone, but Chiudka knew more then she did. Maybe with Grandpa's bag Chiudka would be able to save someone. She didn't even really look at anything in the cottage, but went straight to the cupboard across from the hearth. She heard her Grandfather explaining that some of the herbs lost their potency if they got too warm, and closed her eyes for a moment, thanking him for the reminder that the dead were not truly gone.

Tjasa opened her eyes, and made sure the bag was tightly closed before turning around and heading for the tavern as fast as she could fight her way through the snow.

A Cold Wind Blows...

I'm here.
I meant to have a post up this morning, but I forgot to set my alarm, and had barely enough time to get ready for work...and that pattern followed me through the rest of the day. It's frustrating when you feel like you aren't able to help the people you work with as much as they need.
Anyway,I was having trouble leaving work at work today, so I played a game of rummy with my parents to try to distract myself and put it on the back burner. It worked, or at least mostly worked, so I'm going to start working on my post right now.

A Cold Wind Blows...

I will respond tomorrow morning, today is my long day at work. I want to respond right now, because ideas are flying through my head, but I'm tired enough that I know my writing would not be my best.

A Cold Wind Blows...

Chiduka's grasp on Tjasa's arm brought her out of her frozen disbelief. This felt too real to be a dream... She had to get to Papa. He would make everything better. He always had always kept her safe before, surely he would not fail her now. A part of her knew that her father was only a man, a good man, but still just a man, no more equipped to deal with impossible nightmares than any other man, but she refused to acknowledge it. Papa had always meant security, he had driven the monsters under her bed away as a child, and held her while she cried after Mama passed. She allowed Chiduka to pull her through the snow towards the tavern, moving as fast as she could.

As they drew closer to where she knew the tavern should be, Tjasa looked for the light spilling out of the windows. She realized that they weren't going to make it before the darkness overcame them, and struggled to move even faster. Terror making her clumsy, she tripped and fell headfirst into a deep snow bank, breaking Chiduka's grip on her arm. Before she could even get her breath back, she heard the cacophony of screams, animal and otherwise, begin. Instinctively, she huddled deeper in to the snow, curling herself into a tight ball.

She managed to keep herself from screaming, but only just. She prayed to her ancestors that the monstrous owners of the malicious eyes she had seen in the darkness would not see her. She begged her mother especially not to abandon her, to keep her out of harm's way. After what seemed an eternity, the screams slowed, then stopped all together. She didn't move for another eternity, unsure if the evil spirits were truly gone, or if they had simply run out of things to kill.

When she did finally poke her head out of the snow, she was horrified by what she saw. She glanced to where Chiduka had last been, and after assuring herself that she was not among the dead, she stood and ran the rest of the way to the tavern, desperate for the comfort of her Papa's arms around her. She struggled to push open the door, and almost threw up when she realized that it was an body, made unrecognizable by the lack of a face, that was holding the door closed. She forced herself not to stop tears freezing on her face, and managed to open the door enough to squeeze in. "Papa?" she called, looking around, finally recognizing the winter cloak she had lovingly embroidered for him, near the fireplace. She hurriedly made her way over, pushing past the well meaning arms of Radislav, one of her father's few close friends, as he reached to stop her.

"Papa?" she said, hoping against hope that she would get a response. When none was forthcoming, she knelt and turned him over. She screamed, realizing that were his heart should be, there was only a gaping hole.

A Cold Wind Blows...

I'm sorry for the delay in posting. I meant to post yesterday before I left for LARP but I ended up sleeping til an a hour before I needed to leave.
I hope to have a post up in another hour or two.

Hogwarts: Legacy of Lord Voldemort

At the head table, Dignatia absentmindedly moved her food around her plate struggling to wake up. Avis Verdis, her pet conure, sat on her shoulder, preening her hair and making happy chirping noises. Dignatia stopped moving her food every now and again to give Dis a small piece of French toast, or to take a bite herself. The first month of the year was going fairly well, although there were the usual tensions between students, there had yet to be any explosions. She had high hopes for some of her students, within her house and otherwise.

She considered getting up when she noticed Mr. Fletchers' somewhat sloppy appearance, but before she could do more that think of ways to tactfully suggest that his appearance was a reflection on his house, Mr. Stuart apparently said something to him about it, as Fletchers got up and left. When he returned, he was appropriately dressed, although not a great deal tidier.

She watched the conversation between the two boys, although she made certain not to stare. She was hopeful that perhaps Fletchers might befriend Stuart. It would be beneficial to both boys. Fletchers would get a bit more used to wizarding manners and standards of appearance, and Stuart would hear about muggles in a more positive light then the nonsense he was potentially getting at home, as well as being a bit less isolated.

When Stuart stormed off she winced, and asked Dis "Do you suppose we should go see what Mr. Fletchers said to upset him?" When Dis eagerly bobbed her head up and down, Dignatia nodded. "You're right, as Head of House I have a duty prevent quarrels from getting to far out of control. " Having successfully justified her curiosity, she waited a few moments, before getting up and heading after Mr. Stuart.

A Cold Wind Blows...

I'm exhausted. I had to work until 7 today, and didn't get home until 8, then had to cook dinner...

A Cold Wind Blows...

Hooray! More posts!
I'm not sure if I should respond to Chiudka's finding Tjasa yet or not...
Probably not tonight, though I've got ideas running through my head.
My mother claims I turn into a pumpkin after ten and it's nearly eleven now... but I want to work on my interest check some more before I go to bed, So maybe I'll stay up 'till midnight, and set my alarm for 6 am instead of 5 am.... I don't have to leave for work until ten to eight, so I should be alright...

Hogwarts: Legacy of Lord Voldemort

~Character Sheet

Dignatia Approbus

Full Name: Dignatia Argentia Approbus

Age: 35

Blood: Pureblood

Alignment: Good

House: Head of Slytherin

Personality:

Dignatia has always been extremely curious, and much to the embarrassment of her family, she has always been a bit fascinated by the idea of people living without magic. It's not that she has any desire to do so herself, but a curiosity about how it would work. Her curiosity has often gotten her in trouble, for being 'nosey' and inserting herself in other people's business.

Dignatia is ambitious, but more in the sense of achieving everything she is capable of then in the power hungry sense. That isn't to say she ignores or doesn't understand the dynamics of power. No graduate of Slytherin house could. However, unlike many of her housemates she has always believed that one gets more flies with honey then vinegar, and behaves in a corresponding faction. She is a strict teacher, but if someone is making an effort she will work with them to help them improve.

Dignatia has a tendency to be a bit absent minded at times, loosing herself in the proof of a new Arithmancy theory or a good novel, and loosing track of what is going on around her.

Dignatia longs to restore the reputation of her house as leaders and achievers, and remove the stigma that the high percentage of Slytherin Death Eaters created.

Bio\History:

Dignatia was in her seventh year when the chamber of secrets was opened. The talk among her parents crowd about the possible return of "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" influenced her choice of Arithmancy Master to apprentice under. She knew that as a Pureblooded Slytherin, her parents would expect her to take the Dark Mark and become a Death Eater. She had no interest in the Dark Arts whatsoever, and wanted no part of a war to remove muggleborns and muggles from the world. She therefore chose to apprentice under Pythagoria Wittlesworth, a noted American Aritmancer.

She found the American Wizarding World, at least in California, to be much less isolated from the muggle world. While there were private bars and restaurants for wizarding folk, if one wanted to be able to cook for oneself, one had to be able to navigate a grocery store. She was exposed to the technological wonders of modern muggle society, and her curiosity drove her to find out more about them. One of her current projects is to try and come up with a magically powered device that will function like a cell phone, and/or a way to ward muggle devices so they will work in the presence of magic. As of yet, she has had no luck, possibly due to her lack of full understanding of 'muggle magic' as she tends to think of it.

She stayed in America while the war played out, and was approached about the Arithmancy Position a couple of years afterwards. She was told that she could have the position on the condition she agreed to become Head of Slytherin. There were frightenly few Slytherins who had kept their noses completely clean during the war, and the current Headmaster was eager to have a Head of Slytherin House that would set a good example.

She is strict, but fair, both as a teacher and head of house, and always encourages others to achieve their own full potential. She firmly believes the truly great make others believe that they, too, can be great.

Appearance:


Teaching Robes:


Notable skills:
Arithmancy and Academics
Unusual familiarity with Muggle World (at least for a Pureblood)
Teaching

Patronus Charm: Severe Macaw

[/b]Pet:[/b] Avis Viridis, aka Dis , a Green Cheeked Conure

I hope the bit about the American Wizarding World was not out of place? If so, I can change it.
Also, I am working on a Hufflepuff Student Character.

Hogwarts: Legacy of Lord Voldemort

I'm on lunch break at work right now, but I will post characters as soon as I get home, although that won't be for another eight hours or so.