Normally, Nesia would watch the voyage preparation made by the school staffs. Their ship was a galleon--or so she heard from the overly-excited fourth year student who babbled to his friends--painted in dark colors with a forecastle. Quite a majestic ship, she mused, holding her fur coat so tight in the windy weather. Enthusiasm was contagious among the seventh graders, candidates or not. Nesia managed to distance herself from her peers by saying that she needed to finish packing. After a short ceremony, including a speech that lulled many first years to sleep, they boarded and left. Nesia didn't stay at the deck like everyone else to wave at the other Durmstrang students. Instead, she headed to her cabin and slept.

But she couldn't. Other students were exploring the ship, talking aloud about their ride to Hogwarts and what would they see in the tournament. Nesia listened, sorting through their different tongues to reap gossips and information. Their voices pierced through the wooden walls, keeping her hearing alert. The student did want to join them, but her energy was drained. She did look happy among her friends as they congratulated her for being chosen as a candidate. Her first thought afterwards was to write down this news to her mother, but she couldn't.

Nesia had to catch up a lot on her family's lore, making her unable to visit her mother's grave. She was buried in her hometown, a tiny island in the eastern seas where rare ingredients for the most potent potions thrived. Of course, there was also a party held for her achievement, so that kept her from traveling out of town for a couple weeks. Not that it's less awkward to ask her grandmother for a permission to visit the grave.

The girl promised herself to make the most of this opportunity--she'd see new sights, new friends, everything new! Distracting herself with the thought, she climbed out of bed and walked to the dining hall. The scenery outside had been replaced by underwater landscape. Grabbing a small bowl of mashed potatoes and fish, Nesia sat near a window to admire the ocean as she ate. Darkness dominated her view, but an occasional appearance of the deep sea creatures were enough to entertain her.

Notes Ah man I haven't written anything in a while, but I hope this is good enough for you, Derp!  WORDS 594 TAGS NESIA NOTONEGORO

you break me, slow motion This ship was going to be the death of him, he mused. Forget surviving the Triwizard Tournament on the small chance that he would be selected as Durmstrang's champion. If he couldn't handle one little boat ride, how was he going to outrun a dragon or endure the terrors that may be thrown at him as an aspiring champion? He wasn't going to fool himself, though. Vash Alois Zwingli does not have a pair of sea legs, nor did it seem very likely that he would earn his sea legs on this voyage. Of course, he wasn't going to let that fact be known, pride withstanding. Upon boarding the ship, he made a beeline for the cabin and drew the covers over his head, closing his eyes and attempting to steady his breathing. The boys at the dueling club would have a ball if they saw their "champion" crouched in a corner, attempting establish a steady breathing pattern to fight an onslaught of nausea. However, he couldn't sleep forever, and at a certain point, he developed a dull thumping in the back of his head, urging him to vacate the bed, only to pain him more upon rising. The grumbling in his stomach had to be the culprit. Defeated, he deduced that avoiding the dining hall for the entire duration of the voyage wasn't an option. Perhaps he didn't actually need to have a hand on the walls of the ship, with smooth sailing ahead. He clung onto that wall for dear life, thankful that the halls were relatively clear, with most people enjoying the salty sea air on the top deck. Had they seen the Vash Zwingli with his hands tracing the lines of the wall, attached to it like a young child would to their mother, he wouldn't hear the end of it. The light of the dining hall at the end of the corridor was a beacon of hope as his legs practically crawled at a toddler's pace towards the eatery. If Vash wasn't such a landlubber, he would have perhaps appreciated the fine vessel that Durmstrang provided to transport their Triwizard Tournament delegation. The ceiling was cloaked in the sea, the windows peering out into the actual ocean, punctuated by stray fish and an occasional whale. Like the corridors, the dining hall was relatively empty, save... Vash quickly grabbed himself a plate of the mashed potatoes and fish they were served and made it a point to seat himself at the very opposite side of the hall from the girl sitting by the window. She may have not been in Jord, but because of his notable position in Durmstrang's Dueling Club, the likelihood of her recognizing him was simply too great. He had a reputation to uphold!  He wanted to scarf down his potatoes and fish and make his way back to the cabin, but with how his stomach was interpreting the circumstances, that wasn't a viable option. He deigned to eat and inconspicuously vacate the premises, to ignore his surroundings and have his (not quite aesthetically pleasing) food command his attention. However, his choice was made when the ship lurched forward and the plate slid across the table, slamming into the floor, his mashed potatoes and fish strewn across the floor. But that wasn't his biggest concern, no. The lurching in his stomach was having an argument with the physics of the ship. His head spinning, Vash crossed his arms and allowed his forehead to dig into the table. He honestly couldn't care for mashed potatoes and fish today.

Made by Siren of GS and THQ

The Dutchman quite loved the ship that transported them across the ocean to another school of magic.

He also loved being tall.

Which would leave his only criticism for those damned small bunks. They were cramped for average sized people as it was, let alone for someone of his considerable height. Relaxing was an ordeal, sleeping would be a pain. He would either have to practically fold in on himself or prop up the pillows for his back and leave part of his long legs outside of the bed. Wonderful.

Deciding to find a different way to pass the time than reclining in discomfort, Dries got up and stretched, touching the low roof with his hands. The Jord briefly glanced at some packs and luggage from other students he shared the smallish cabin with. He wasn't able to identify their owners on the fly but didn't particularly care, as long as they didn't bother him too much.

Taking long strides in a steady rhythm across the worn floorboords, unhindered by the rocking ship he headed for the mess hall to grab a bite. He hadn't been on the upper deck because it was too crowded for his liking with first time passengers. The novelty of vast waters and an ever distant horizon would soon wear off for them anyway, its pull magnetic only to some.
The dark billowing sails and ebony wood stood out against the seafoam lapping at the hull and the stark clouds overhead. He wasn't a stranger to the vessel, as he regularly came to help maintain it, though in truth little work was needed. It was for when he liked to be left in relative peace and work with his hands for a change.

He arrived at his destination, which was practically devoid of people, though his eyes lingered for a moment, on the petite girl at the back before turning back just a tad too briskly to the simple lackluster dishes. Not feeling any spurrings of appetite, he figured it might be better to wait until he was too hungry to care much about the taste. Just then behind him a loud crash resounded through the near empty room.

Looking over his shoulder he spotted the smaller student a few paces away and recognized him easily despite not seeing his face. His wiry body was coiled tight in an attempt to keep the nausea at bay. It wasn't going to work. Dries strode over, keeping a watchful eye in case he was about to throw up.
"Zwingli."
His fellow Jord had his face burrowed in his tensed arms, nails nearly digging into the table.
"You look like shit."
No doubt he felt like it too. Dries felt a slight smile tugging at his lips at the expectance of a rather biting retort for stating something so glaringly obvious to the Swiss, gauging his ability to snark in relation to how badly he was incapacitated, and if in fact, he was needing some assistance.

I'VE GOT ICE IN MY SOUL

and it's burning me alive

Though Natalya was curious as to what the Triwizard Tournament would hold in store, the fact remained that she was not quite as excited as most of the other Durmstrang students on the ship. Part of this stemmed from the fact that Natalya was only fifteen - She could watch the tournament but she'd be too young to participate regardless whether she actually wanted to or not. It was fortunate then that Natalya was not particularly eager to participate either. Watching would be entertaining enough. With that being said, Natalya was excited for the trip to Hogwarts. It just had little to do with the actual tournament. No, it had to do with the fact that her brother attended Hogwarts for the past couple of years, and Natalya was eager to see him there.

When she arrived at her destination, she grabbed sparing amounts of food. She wasn't immensely hungry, yet had a feeling that if she didn't eat now she wouldn't be eating for a while so she might as well take the opportunity while she had it. There weren't many others in the area. She recognized Vash Zwingli and nodded a hello to him, as they were on cordial enough terms. The other boy with him Natalya did not know as well, though she knew well enough to know that he was an older student.

Seeing as he started up a conversation with Vash, Natalya decided to head over to where Nesia was seated. "Definitely a unique experience." Natalya remarked as she peered out the window. The view of deep sea creatures was one that she could actually get used to. It did seem a bit ironic to watch sea creatures outside the window while they were eating fish, though the odd realization brought a hint of a smile to Natalya's face. It took a lot more than that to make her laugh, but at least she was amused?

She took a bite of her potatoes. "It's nice that we'll be at the Hufflepuff table..my brother is one." If all of the students from their school had to eat with one of the houses at Hogwarts, she was glad that it was a house that she was at least familiar with. She'd also get the chance to see if Ivan's schoolmates were treating him right. She knew that he'd had a hard time of it at Durmstrang, and she hoped to see that he was having a better time at Hogwarts. If not..well, let the wrath of a younger sister not be underestimated

Made by ANIMU of GANGNAM STYLE

You're gonna

taste the ground someday

You're gonna

taste the grass...

Liang was not typically interested in ships or anything to do with water. The only thing he bothered to do with the stuff was drink it or to shower with it -- being on it, surrounded completely by it, was something else entirely. He was starting to think that he might never step onto another ship again after this little adventure to America.

He was not particularly excited for the Triwizard Tournament. He was too young, had nothing to do with it or with anyone involved in it, and was generally disgusted with displaying any form of school spirit other than donning the clothes and attending the school itself. Call him a killjoy.

So he had brought some of his books with him, planning to do some light (well, his own definition of light, anyway) reading on the voyage. But his head was pounding by the end of the third page, the tiny text beginning to swim before his eyes. So this plan was scrapped hastily as well. He shoved the book away and left the bunks as quickly as he could, seeking escape from the growing ache in his temples.

Apparently, he was not made for seafaring. Who would have known; he had never been on a normal boat before, had never travelled anywhere before he'd come to Europe. Even then, that was on a plane. To be fair, he had not liked very much that either.

Perhaps he was meant to stay on land forever. Or maybe it was a sign that he should just buy a damn car.

It was easy enough to stumble into the mess hall. He had memorised its location quickly the first time he'd climbed aboard, and this place at least seemed to be free of noise and chatter. He had planned to get food, but only ended up taking a glass of water.

Water to calm himself down from water. How repulsively ironic. 

He did a quick sweep of the room, noting the layout and its exits, and saw that there were four others present. One he recognised at once -- Zwingli. Liang was not terribly interested in him, nor the towering young man who stood beside him. Liang had a profound dislike for standing next to tall people. It just made him feel smaller, and he hated it. No offence to the person themselves.

The one person he did recognise was Nesia. He believed that was her name, at least. The girl was in his house, though older than him, but he had made little effort to speak to her before. He was too busy wrapped up in his studies, but now... well. They were stuck on a ship together for what would be a long voyage. He found that he somewhat desired company in this strange new territory.

So he made his way over to the pair. The younger one, he did not know. He hoped that she was cordial, at the least, and not some loud and obnoxious character. She was saying something about Hufflepuff when he reached their table. He stood there, silent for a moment and unsure how to breach the conversation. Ah, well, nothing for it.

"Good day," he said, making an effort to put on a smile even if he knew it was unnatural. He must look exhausted. "Apologies for interrupting. Do either of you mind that I have a seat here?"

He looked both the students over now that he had a closer view of them. And now he was growing anxious; they were complete strangers, and he was not sure what he was seeking to accomplish by making conversation. He typically kept his circles limited to classroom discussion and exchange of study materials and textbooks. 

"I'm not sure if we've been acquainted before. I'm Nicolau. And you two are?"

It was still hard to think of himself as a Nicolau even after five years. He introduced himself as such, was referred to by all his teachers as such, but yet the name was still difficult to ingrain in his mind as his own. He did not bother to give the girls his last name, though.

« tag: everyone lol // notes: liang is so very awkward »

★ made by elaina

For a moment, Nesia played with her food while her attention shifted between the window and the house-elf who arranged food across the room. From the amount they were preparing, Nesia expected more students would show up soon. The first one was from the dueling club, a Swiss Jord named Vash. He seated himself far from her table, thus closing any chance for a talk. Nesia wouldn't mind it; the president of duel club wasn't known for his outstanding social skill. A girl followed suit, this time she approached her table and sat. Nesia automatically welcomed her with a smile. 

Natalya was her junior, but they had some chances talking on campus ground. While her usual cold demeanor wouldn't normally match Nesia's fiery and bubbly nature, they respected each other enough to keep up regular conversations. The Belorussian student commented about an experience, but Nesia forgot what did she refer to until she realized Natalya's gaze was directed at the window. Something large and dark just crossed by, perhaps a whale. 

"Absolutely," Nesia replied flatly, tidying up the mess she made with her mashed food. The ocean depths are mysterious and mesmerizing. Not even muggles were able to uncover all of its secrets. Many wizards suspected the depths housed various magical creatures yet to be studied. "Huh, we will? When were we told that?" she returned her comment with a question. Nesia must had been daydreaming when they were briefed before their trip. At least, according to the gossips Nesia heard, the Hufflepuffs are nice people to be around with. 

"My brother is one." 

Nesia blinked. Now this is a new information. Natalya's older brother, Ivan Braginsky, spent a short time in Durmstrang before moving to the British school. As she wasn't close to the Russian, Nesia had scarce recollection about him. But certainly she never guessed that he would be sorted to Hufflepuff. "He is?" Nesia took a bite, keeping her tone to show a hint of curiosity. "I haven't heard much about him for years... I take it he's happier in Hogwarts?" The prospect of seeing a familiar face in their destination brighten her heart a little. "He can introduce us to his friends," she added with a grin. It's easier to mingle when there was a mutual friend to bridge the schools! 

Natalya's company helped Nesia to eat more of her food. A shadow fell over them; another student approached their table with an intention to join the girls. Nesia took a glance, finding his face was indeed familiar but she couldn't find a name to match that Eastern Asian feature. She remembered seeing him often in the Eldur quarters, so perhaps he's her junior. 

"I don't mind it, please sit with us," Nesia welcomed him. He seemed to be the studious and quiet type, which explained why Nesia was unable to remember his name. Her memory was mostly filled with outgoing students. "Nicolau," Nesia repeated. "I'm Nesia. Nice to meet you." 

Finding her throat in need of a liquid, Nesia asked the house-elf in charge of the dining room for a cup of a chamomile tea. That was when she found the Swiss in a state of agony: sea sickness. A tall blond boy stood beside him, his back facing her, but she didn't need to see his face to know who he was. 

Nesia let her gaze lingered on him before returning to her companies, a wide smile bloomed on her face. Her mood was better now.

Notes I apologize for such a late reply! My first post with my new laptop after living off of public computers for about a month! WORDS 519 TAGS ANDRIES VAN DER HAVEN

you break me, slow motion "You look like shit." Stating the obvious. Vash certainly didn't need to be told that, but damn, it was getting more and more difficult to hold his composure. As more and more people entered the mess hall, the pit in Vash's stomach only seemed to deepen. He could only barely return Natalya's acknowledgement with a nod, only accentuating the weakness and shame he felt. The floor under the table seemed to be a much more attractive place with all this shame surmounting upon him. "I don't need any help," Vash mumbled to the Dutchman, his forehead still pressed firmly against the surface of the table. "I'll feel much better once you leave me alone." Besides the obvious observations the Dutchman made, Vash really had nothing against his fellow Jord except the fact that the man was a mountain that made him look like a bush. Dries stood 189 centimeters tall, clearly shadowing Vash's 165.1 centimeters of existence... and yes, he did emphasize that extra .1 centimeter for good measure. Dries was perhaps a likeminded soul. Though Vash himself did not subscribe to the superiority theory of blood purity as some prominent figures on his mother's side did, pureblood culture and class on the continent of Europe still played a huge role in thought and in social circle. Though Vash had not interacted with the young man until his time at Durmstrang, Vash had known the name as a boy. Dries was the heir to the van Leeuwenhoek family, despite not bearing the name, not that Vash was interested in the sob story behind that in the slightest. As such, Dries probably understood the weight and efficiency an heir must bear for the prestige of his name, a burden that Vash had the luxury of sharing with his sister. Of course, Vash had respect for all fellow duelists. But for now, that respect would be promptly ignored. He couldn't look this man in the eye. If anything, Dries' presence only augmented just how pathetic Vash was being at the moment. The ship lurched forward slightly, perhaps insignificantly for most. For Vash, though, such a shift would prove damaging. Just when he thought he was reaching a point of homeostasis, the back of his head released another wave of headache, and the bottom of his stomach decided to churn itself yet again. Instead of doing what was natural and continue to attempt to become one with the table, Vash stood up, dizzying himself further. He swerved like a drunken man as he scowled at the one person in the room who was attempting to be helpful. "I can get up by myself, see? I'm not helpless at all, and don't smirk at me like that!" Vash crossed his arms tightly to his chest, bracing himself as the ground moved beneath him like slow, viscous gelatin. He wobbled as he attempted to keep his balance, taking small steps towards the entrance of the mess hall. He would have been successful, had he not found himself hugging the floor of the corner of the entrance after the ship lurched forward yet again. Humiliating.

Made by Siren of GS and THQ

“Evidently.”
Andries looked mildly pained as the Swiss hit the deck in an inelegant sprawl. Not that there was anyone to see it. His expression that was.

Taking two swift strides towards the heap of miserable Jord he briefly considered pulling him up by the arms but doubted Vash would appreciate or even allow such help. Any help, for that matter.

Instead he quickly scooped Vash up, but made sure he wasn’t doubling over or that the movement was too sudden, and planted his feet on the ground. Dries let go of the boy, instead gripping the fabric of his clothes at the balance point of his back, just a little below the shoulder blades. He wouldn't be visibly holding him up, just supporting to keep him from hitting the floor anew.
Vash might object to his uniform getting rumpled, but not as much as visibly getting hauled towards the shiprail for all to see.
"Let's get you on deck. Fresh air will do you good."

After they conquered the stairs with some difficulty, a cool, fresh gale greeted them instantly.
"Left." He simply stated. That side the horizon was clearest and due to the placement of his hand, the least obvious in letting others find out Vash was getting any kind of unsolicited help.

Dries still remembered the first time he got seasick, though he was only five, and while usually not being overly sympathetic to another's plight, he also had little desire to add to it.
He let him go when the other gingerly caught hold of the rail. They were the closest students to the quarterdeck so Vash was shielded from view by the dark wall on his right.

"Focus on the horizon." The Dutchman leaned his hip against the ebony wood, blocking Vash from other students' views. "Helps you rebalance."

His hand traveled to his tobacco, but stopped at Vash's pale complexion. Perhaps in a bit. The ship would dive in a while but he figured they still had some time to straighten him out.
He contemplated small talk but he wasn't really a fan. Besides, Vash had the matters of his nausea to attend to so he doubted the angry Swiss was in any mood to talk.

Instead he just let his eyes travel over the water. A sight that could never bore him, and waited until the other collected himself.

Antonio ran into the cabin, panting faintly. “Haa…. Haa…” He propped his hands on his knees and took a few more deep breaths to try and ease the stitch in his side. He felt at home on the ship, something about it seemed to call out to him. He had heard stories of his ancestors conquering the seas long ago, relying on nothing but their wits and a fair wind. He loved the gentle rocking of the ship, the gentle groans of the wood, like the living, breathing thing. If Toni could, he’d spend the rest of his life on a ship like this. But for now it certainly made for an excellent trip to Hogwarts.

Hogwarts.

Just the thought of it made his heart pick up a beat. Visiting Hogwarts world be exciting under normal circumstances. Gil had told him enough stories about the place to pique the Spaniard’s interest about the place. He couldn’t wait to explore the school, maybe find an abandoned dungeon or something. But this wasn’t just any visit. No, this was the Triwizard Tournament! And better still, Toni was of the age to participate! The thought had been buzzing in his mind since the Headmaster first announced it. Champion… He wanted that opportunity more than he’d ever wanted anything in his life. The chance to prove to the schools, to the world, that there are still heroes in the Carriedo family, that glory was not something only to be found with their ancestors. And, perhaps, he wanted the chance to prove it to himself, there were moments, moments that not even Gil knew about, where Toni doubted himself. He doubted his own strength, his convictions, even his own goodness. This tournament was a chance to test his bloodline once and for all. What is the true nature of a Carriedo—the heroes who helped build the great Spanish empire, or the cowards and degenerates who destroyed both the Carriedo name and fortune? Toni wanted that chance, needed the chance to prove to everyone, himself included, that he could be more than the first son of a dishonored family.

But now’s not the time for that sort of thinking. For now, nothing Toni did could affect his chances of being selected and he made it a long standing rule not to obsess over anything that he could not change. So for now he’d focus on enjoying his trip on this marvelous boat.

But perhaps he should enjoy it a little less. Toni had been so fascinated by the ship that he’d lost all track of time while exploring. Worried that he’d missed dinner, Toni ran all the way to the Galley, only stopping for breath once he’d made in and was sure there was still food to be had. There actually weren’t a large amount of students milling about the place, so either he was very early or very late. Toni’s brow furrowed in confusion as he realized he had no idea what time it was. ¡Mierda!

Toni looked around and saw the few students. His fellow Jord was talking to Vash and given that Dries had just broken up with the only girl Toni had felt seriously about, things had been a little awkward. Not that Toni blamed him or harbored any ill will towards him for it, but it still made it a bit more difficult to approach the blonde without reason. Besides, it looked like Vash might be having some trouble with the motion of the ship and Toni was all too happy to leave that to Dries. The only occupied table consisted of three students, none of which were in his House. Not that it mattered much to Toni. What did matter was that one of the girl’s happened to be the very girl Toni had broken things off with. They had parted on decent enough terms and Toni still considered her a dear friend, but still… did he really want to provoke any harsh feelings from his fellow housemate by chatting with her directly in his vision?

Eh. Toni shrugged. It was only polite conversation over dinner. What’s the worst that could happen? He hastily grabbed a tray and filled it up before strolling over to the table, grinning widely.

“Hey! I’m glad I caught you guys! I totally lost track of time and ran here thinking I missed dinner.” His grin turned sheepish. “I’m not late right? Or am I early? It's pretty deserted, no?”

He grinned at Nesia before glancing at the other two. They were familiar, just as every student in Durmstrang was. He’d likely passed them every day, but had never learned their names. Hopefully, he could change that now.

“My name’s Antonio, or Toni for short. Mind if I sit with you?”

~~~~~~
Note: sorry for being so latein joining/writing a novel.... I hope it's okay ^^;

I'VE GOT ICE IN MY SOUL

and it's burning me alive

As it turned out, Nesia was surprised when she brought up Ivan. Natalya wasn't sure whether to take that as a good sign or a bad sign, especially when Nesia seemed more surprised about Ivan being a Hufflepuff than she did about anything else. Admittedly, Natalya would have thought that Ivan was a shoe-in for Slytherin herself, but as soon as she looked into the Hufflepuff house more she could understand why he'd been sorted into Hufflepuff. He was incredibly loyal to his family. She felt truly safe when she was around him. She missed having him around at Durmstrang, but it had at least allowed her to come into her own at the school whereas her reputation would have doubtlessly been more influenced by his had he stayed at Durmstrang like his sisters.

"He's much happier at Hogwarts from what I can tell. He's doing very well there." There was a hint of an edge to Natalya's voice. No, Nesia hadn't heard much about her brother for a while and that was a good thing. She could recall how unkindly he was treated a few years prior, and thus she did not consider it a bad thing that she hadn't heard much about Ivan through the grapevine at school in a long time. She knew more than most of course, being his sister..but she didn't share that information with just anyone.

It was then that not just one, but two other students came to join them. Natalya shifted a bit uncomfortably in her seat. It was one thing talking to Nesia, who she was on fairly good terms with..she didn't know either of these boys that well. "Natalya. Have a seat." She introduced herself when Antonio asked if he could have a seat, figuring that the introduction could work for both of the boys even if it was only outright directed toward one. Nesia responded to the other one, so she supposed that she should do the honors. Now that there were four of them at the table, Natalya didn't plan on talking much unless she was directly addressed. She felt comfortable enough talking to Nesia, but Nicolau and Toni were something else entirely.

Small talk was easy enough though. She supposed that she would stick to that for the time being. A larger group meant lesser chance that the conversation would get super personal, after all

Made by ANIMU of GANGNAM STYLE

"He's much happier at Hogwarts from what I can tell. He's doing very well there." 

"That's great," Nesia's reply was modest, out of necessity instead of honesty. Ivan Braginsky left before she could know him better, so further inquiry would feel slightly inappropriate on her part. Nesia chose to focus on her food once more, realizing that the fish was actually tasted good. More students poured into the hall, raising the volume of conversations and chit chat around them. She tuned out all of them until someone new approached their table. 

“Hey! I’m glad I caught you guys! I totally lost track of time and ran here thinking I missed dinner.” 

She jerked up her head. "Toni!" she exclaimed, perhaps louder than she intended. "You didn't get sea sickness, I hope?" she added, snickering, with a lower volume. It's almost a year since they ended their relationship, but to Nesia's relief, Toni and her remained close as friends. They were alike in hobbies as well as temper. The break up also ended her quest for a boyfriend, allowing Nesia to focus better on her studies. 

"I was here first," she answered his question. "there weren't this many people before." Her plate was soon empty, so she excused herself to deliver her dirty dishes back to the house elf who was in charge of the kitchen. When she returned, Nesia brought a bowl of hearty soup. 

"So..." she addressed the entire table, but more so towards Natalya. "What it's like in Hogwarts? I heard their castle is bigger than ours, plus a lake with wonderful creatures beneath."


------
[[ I am late orz ]]

Notes Nursing school is kicking me down please forgive me WORDS 408 TAGS ANDRIES VAN DER HAVEN

you break me, slow motion At this point, he's completely ashamed. A proud Zwingli, easily scooped up by his Dutch classmate. Even if Andries was considerate enough to make it seem like Vash didn't need help, Vash couldn't help but feel small juxtaposed with Andries. If he had the strength, Vash would fight the help, but the sea claimed otherwise. "Let's get you on deck. Fresh air will do you good." Vash couldn't argue with that. He said nothing as he was quietly spirited away from the mess hall to the deck, the sight of the churning waters only furthering his seasickness. He wanted to protest and make a beeline for his bed again, but instead gripped onto the siderail for dear life, ignoring the possibility that others would see him. If there was anything that he felt would dampen his dignity, it would be the actual act of vomiting on deck. "Focus on the horizon. Helps you rebalance." Vash squinted at the horizon, holding his breath as the line seemed to multiply. Shaking his head, he rubbed his left temple and tightened the grip on the siderail with his right hand. He took a deep breath in, all the way to his diaphragm, and let it out slowly, gradually feeling the slightest bit restored. He couldn't even look at Andries as he hung his head over the rail, refusing to accept any of his self-imposed shame. He stared at the water for a while, slowly trying to discern a sense of order in the cold, chaotic water.  Any seafarer would know, though, that the ocean was no tame lady, and that one should worry if the water stays calm for too long. The only real end to his misery would come when they finally reach Hogwarts. Vash is a man that pays his debts, and so, after much internal deliberation and a good amount of time to reorient himself, he wearily faced Andries. "Thank you. However, speak of this to no one," he said, straightening himself against the side rail and crossing his arms. "I owe you." He observed the Dutchman for a while, whose strong stance and stoic expression betrayed no sign of seasickness. The Dutchman reached for some tobacco, but hesitated, deciding to look out upon the sea, reveling in the silence. Perhaps he was a man of his make, but perhaps the secret lies in the air. Clearing his throat, he asked "Would a smoke make this any better?"

Made by Siren of GS and THQ