no shadows anymore

Would you like to go places, Tristian? -she turns to him, giving him that big, blue eyed look- Not to see anything especially though, because I think that’s the difference. I want to go to see things, but I just want to go to. To be in a big muggle aeroplane, or a train that goes all the way through Europe… that’s where going is — not actually getting from one place to the other, but what happens inbetween. 

-smiles at the way she describes travel; she can make just about anything sound beautiful. but he agrees with her, `there's something mystifying in heading off, something awe striking in the thought of her accompaniment. his smile becomes a beam and he nods, catching her eyes with enthusiasm- I'd like to go places, yeah. Anyplace. 

I suppose they are a bit scary — but that’s what makes them cool, right? Adventures are supposed to be a bit scary -she abruptly takes a seat by the water, inadvertently dragging him down a little with their interlocked hands — not that she seems to notice- It wouldn’t be an adventure otherwise. It’d be more like… -she scrunches her nose up, thinking- Just… going, I guess. Although I’d like to go places.

-stumbles a bit when she sits, but he retains his balance and, thankfully, his hold on her hand. with a little smile, he joins her, taking a seat as well. despite his lapse in bravery, she doesn't seem to think any less of him, which makes him feel juuuust a little more confident. a little, but not much- I think they both have their merits, absolutely. 

They are, aren’t they? -her head bobs in agreement, her hair rippling down her back with the movement. She pulls it over her shoulder, the other bumping lightly into Tristian’s as they walk close together by the riverbank- I think they’re lovely. even if they aren’t as pretty as they are in the storybooks.

-peers over into the lake again, as if he would be able to see into the water's murky depths for some assistance in visualizing the magical creatures. he knows the chances are slim to none, but looking through makes him wonder what else is down there, and like the softie he is, he represses a nervous shudder- They're a bit scary. I-I mean, not scary, just more powerful. I think it makes them better than they are in stories. 

-reaching the bottom of the slope successfully, Poppy still doesn’t relinquish Tristian’s hand. She laughs again, a bright, happy and infectious sound that could even raise a smile from the sourest of folk- Have you ever seen the merepeople that live in the lake? -she tilts her head to the side slightly, her gaze drifting over to the calm surface of the waters- They’re not like the pictures in the muggle books, but I think they’re kinda beautiful anyways.

-holding her hand for this long might be the best experience of Tristian's life. or at least, he's pretty sure that's what it feels like at this moment. the grin on his face is blinding, his dimples bright and pronounced, the portrait of absolute happiness. he turns it to the lake, eyes skimming over the murky surface- No, I don't think I've actually ever seen them, but I've seen pictures. You know, for class? They're really cool looking. 

-sees the other boy fall, and quickens his pace slightly to make it over to him; it looked like it was quite the fall, and he can’t help but show concern as he draws nearer, a worried frown pulling at his lips- Are you alright?

-scraped his palms a little when he caught himself, but is generally otherwise unscathed, brushing off dirt from his pants and getting back to his feet, his cheeks an impressive pink- I, uh, yeah. I-I'm fine. 

-if possible, Poppy’s smile grows even wider, and she squeezes Tristian’s hand tight. Poppy knows about a lot of things; she can name nearly all the capital cities in Europe, the national sport in Ecuador, the history of the first tribes in Australia, but she is completely oblivious when it comes to Tristian’s feelings for her. She’s never given the thought of him as anything more than a friend a chance, but it’s always felt right to be around him. She’s always felt free to just be herself — no having to be careful, to hide her aspirations. She tugs him towards the lake front, gently sliding down the slight slope with a laugh-

-Poppy's completely oblivious state has been in play for quite a while now, but if he's being honest, it's not like it occupies every moment of Tristians mind. He's small, but mature for his age, with a quiet, thoughtful mind. He's acknowledged the fact that first and foremost, gentle, lovely Poppy is his best friend, and his feelings aside, he's hers as well. That's most important. Laughing as she tugs him along, he follows down the grass, his eyes trained now on his feet and the slippery surface of the slope- 

-has been up for quite a while, having left the castle early to get breakfast in the Three Broomsticks before the usual rush would arrive, and is now heading back as the inn is beginning to swell with people; he’s nearly back to the castle when his path crosses with Tristian’s-

-all wrapped up in his thoughts of sweaters, he's not watching footing, and trips on the last step of the stairs to the grounds and ends up falling forward, his palms flying out to brace his fall against the ground-

-they’ve stopped walking now, having followed a path towards the river, and the sun hits the water just right. It’s still early and hardly anyone is up, and maybe, just maybe they could be the only ones in the world right now. There’s a halo of sunlight around Poppy’s head and she smiles softly, her gaze fond. Even Gianna can be sceptical of all the things she wants to do — she likes Tristian the most because he believes in her, believes in the future she wants to have and sometimes he feels like the only one who does- Will you pursue the next great adventure with me? The game is afoot, Dr Watson.

-there's something about Poppy that just draws Tristian in, and in a different way than he's drawn in now. back when he was too young to recognize or acknowledge a crush when he had one, she always seemed so different to him. and for a little boy with a big heart looking for someone to dedicate it to, she just seemed to be the perfect fit for him. every piece of him seemed to fit with her, and maybe that was the reason holding her hand felt so good. maybe his hand was made to hold hers. and now, of course, there are other things. this girl with her blonde hair could give the sun a run for her money, but instead she decides to form some sort of wholly unfair alliance with the celestial being and emit a kind of radiance that threatens to steal his breath, and if not for the need to respond to her when she speaks to him, he wonders if it might've- The next, and every adventure to follow. 

And then since we’re already in America, we might as well go on a road trip. I mean, I don’t know how to drive and I don’t know if you know how to, but in the muggle films you can always hitchhike, or maybe we could learn somehow. Start out along the east coast — I’ve always wanted to see New York and visit the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building and have ice cream in Central Park, and we could go and see a show on Broadway and then make our way across the country to all the other cool places in America! There’s like, this three hundred foot rollercoaster in Florida, and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, and don’t even get me started on California -by the time she’s finished she actually has to take a deep breath, shaking her head in wonder- I just — there’s so much to see.

-listens to her talk with a smile getting broader on his lips, and it's moments like this where he's certain he's in love with her, or if that's not possible, like they would tell him of someone at his age, he's at least in love with the way she explains things, with her energy and her passion and compelling nature. his voice has an unspoken promise in it when he speaks, one that he can just never seem to help- Luckily, we've got a lot of time. We'll see all of it, Poppy. 

Mhmmm. I really want to go on one someday. They have them here too, but somehow I don’t think it would be the same, you know? -she squeezes his hand slightly, a thought dawning on her- Hey, maybe once we pass our apparition tests, we can go together?

-smiles broadly at the suggestion, and even though something about Poppy and long runs don't seem to pair up in his head, he can't disagree with her when she speaks with that enthusiasm, and when she suggests things like going to other countries with him and so he just nods encouragingly- Yeah! That would be really fun. 

Tristian -she’s grinning from ear to ear though and bumps her shoulder with his, staying close after she does so. She’s about to continue but then gets caught up- It’s basically this sprint that they have all over America, where you run for five kilometres dressed in all white. Whilst you’re running there’s checkpoints where people chucked coloured paint at you, so when you’re at the end you’re all colourful and there’s this massive party and everyone celebrates -her eyes light up as she talks, hands waving about animatedly- I’ve seen so many pictures, and it looks so fun.

Poppy. -can't help but grin back at her expression, watching her with completely entranced eyes as she speaks with such excitement and energy, finding it charming and contagious- They have those? That sounds amazing. 

That’s okay. Between you and me, I’ll let you into a big secret — I’m not sporty too. I would like to go surfing sometime though, or on a colour run in another country. I hear they’re quite popular in America. Have you ever seen them? They look so cool.

-smiles softly- You don't have to be sporty. You're lovely the way you are. -saves himself from blushing by listening to her, trying to ignore the urge to scold himself for being what he believes is so obvious- No, I haven't heard of those. What are they? 

Uh, Chris and Pete are both just really big into like, Quidditch and sports. Like, Pete’s on the Gryffindor team right now. And they play football too, because uh, you know my mum’s a muggle. So she taught them. Terrence is probably the biggest of all of them, but he wants...

-rubs the back of his neck- Uh, yeah. A lot if people think I was adopted, actually. But um, I wasn't. Im just not, uh, sporty. I guess.

-nods a bit, smiling- Well, if I run into him, I promise not to say. He does sound cool though.

I think he’d be cooler if he didn’t think so too. What are your brothers all like?

Uh, Chris and Pete are both just really big into like, Quidditch and sports. Like, Pete's on the Gryffindor team right now. And they play football too, because uh, you know my mum's a muggle. So she taught them. Terrence is probably the biggest of all of them, but he wants to be an accountant. If I'm being honest, I find it incredibly boring, but nobody gives him grief for it because he could crush them.

Yeah, I guess so. My family tends to keep to themselves, though. Or maybe I just do. Um. -clears his throat a bit, because he’s never been that close with them, and he always feels like he’s letting people down if he lets that on- Yeah, but holidays are fine… Well, only if...

-nods a bit, smiling- Well, if I run into him, I promise not to say. He does sound cool though.