Hogmeade Log

[hdmaster_cid]

Name(s): OPEN TO ALL!
Location: Hogmeade; various.
Week: 60
Time: Saturday. (Feel free to start logging whenever.)
Rating: Just keep it below R, people. Remember it is a shared log.

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[serpentsilver]

Ambrosia walked down Hogsmeade's High Street, rather a pitiful one, compared to those of some of Europe's great wizarding cities, but it would have to do. She was in need of supplies following her return to Hogwarts, and Hogsmeade was both convenient, and the agreed upon location for her meeting with Lilith. They hadn't specified a particular place, but Ambrosia had no doubt they would find each other eventually. Hogsmeade was not very expansive, after all.

Minyas hung in the folds of her robe, clinging tightly so he would not fall, squeaking impatiently every few moments. The bat longed for the night much as she did, for the chance to spread his wings and glide, silent, through the sky. "Hush, Minyas," she said idly, reaching a hand up to run her finger down his back. She'd never cared much for animals, they held little interest for her, and though she'd been taught winged horseriding since she was old enough, she had hardly any desire to acquaint herself with more of them. They were good as messengers and for potions ingredients, as far as she was concerned. But the bat who'd appeared when she had returned was much more than a common animal. His thoughts and feelings were her own. He was the deepest parts of her on display, given form for all to see, if one knew how to look.

Thankfully, though, the majority of the school viewed these creatures as nothing more than pets that could talk, playthings for their amusement. Ambrosia knew better. These daemons, as they called themselves, could prove useful.

Her meandering train of thought was cut short as she spied Lilith standing in front of a shop window, and moved more quickly toward her.

"Lilith," she said, inclining her head in greeting as she stopped. "Good afternoon."

[veiledviper]

Skoll noted Ambrosia first, and Lilith heard a chuckle flit through her mind, a noise like the rustle of wind through dried leaves. "Ah, your lovely guest has arrived. Won't you introduce me?"

Lilith ignored the wolf and instead directed her attention to Ambrosia. She nodded in greeting as well. "Good afternoon, Ambrosia. You look well."

"Indeed she does," Sköll rumbled, and although it was impossible, Lilith was sure he would have leered if he could have. He walked a winding path around the two before settling back down near Lilith's side, sitting a little behind her. "And how you've missed such company, haven't you? With the slogs of unwashed filth we must contend with on a daily basis, she is a sight for sore eyes."

Lilith cleared her throat, and motioned to the wolf, the picture of composure. "This is Sköll." She paused, glanced to the animal, and added: "He promises to be a gentleman."

The wolf wagged his tail like a dog might, the perfect picture of a well-behaved pet, but Lilith heard a barking laugh inside her head.

[serpentsilver]

"As do you." Lilith really did look well, Ambrosia noted, not for the first time. There was something coldly beautiful about her, something intriguing that she could not yet put her finger on. She had been drawn to her since she'd first seen her at some social function or another, but her sisters had kept her busy, and she had been unable to greet her properly. Just as well, she thought now, for back then she'd been little more than a spoiled brat, as stupid and arrogant as all the others, vying for a spot at the top of what amounted to nothing more than a heap of rubbish. Yes, it was good that their acquaintance had not been truly made until much later.

The wolf was a handsome creature, to be sure, perhaps a little large and conspicuous for her tastes, but a beast that would warn anyone away. She wondered what it said about Lilith. "It is good to meet you, Sköll."

Minyas' voice sounded in her head, solemn, but with a vibrating undercurrent of emotion. So like her, he was, though perhaps more open. "Find me a dark place," he said, "so that I might see your friend and her dog." And so demanding.

"Might we find a quieter place, out of the sun? Minyas is not fond of the light."

[veiledviper]

"Thank you." There was the barest flicker of a smile from Lilith, and then it was gone in an instant. She nodded at Ambrosia's request, and without another word, began to walk. Sköll trotted behind her, head held high, and for once was quiet as well. There was no need for idle conversation for now.

The winding, leisurely path seemed random, but Lilith had a destination in mind: she always did, and eventually both the girl and her wolf stopped at a park far removed from the bustling crowds that populated Hogsmeade's main streets. Lilith sat down on a park bench, and Sköll flumped down beside her, his head near her feet.

The trees in this place were dense, and save the barest flickers of dappled light through the leaves, it was shaded. Quiet, as well.

"Is this suitable?"

[serpentsilver]

There was little else for Ambrosia to do but follow, and nothing else she wanted to do. She enjoyed how they could be together without speaking, without, it seemed, much in the way of expectations. It was, simply put, a relief.

The shadowed park seemed the perfect place, but Ambrosia was sure to check with Minyas anyway. He was far too valuable to harm, accidentally or otherwise. A squeak in reply let her know that the wooded area was acceptable. "It is," she said, and the Silver-Haired Bat climbed out of her robes and into the palm of her hand, where he lay very still.

"This is Minyas." She raised her hand slightly, moving it toward Lilith to give her a better look at the small creature. "He is... glad to meet you."

[veiledviper]

Lilith observed the little creature intently, careful not to touch it. Ambrosia, she'd learned, had an aversion to physical contact -- she imagined her daemon was the same way. "He's so small," she said, and then inclined her head in greeting. "It is good to meet you as well, Minyas." She let her hand hover over the creature for a moment, then seemed to think better of it, and neatly clasped her hands in her lap.

Sköll's head lifted, he sniffed at the air, and then glanced to the bat in Ambrosia's hand. "An interesting choice." Lilith waited to see if he would speak more on the matter, perhaps give some theory on why such an animal had been chosen as Ambrosia's daemon, but he said nothing else, and she fought down a sudden swell of irritation. The one time she wanted his insight, he refused to speak.

Instead of trying to force a response, she returned her attention to Ambrosia. "Did you enjoy your time away?"

[serpentsilver]

Minyas, whose emotions were much less hidden than Ambrosia's own, bristled a bit at being called small. "Ah, he is large, for his species," she said, an almost amused note creeping into her voice. The bat was restless, irritated at being cooped up in her robes, and he told her as much. "Would you like to see him fly? It seems he wishes to."

Flight would give him a better idea of their surroundings, and would allow him to observe Lilith's daemon, as he seemed keen to do. She wondered idly if he would share his thoughts with her later. It was no matter. She would learn about the wolf, whether with Minyas' help, or on her own. Perhaps Lilith herself would even tell her about him. How likely that was, she did not know, but she might, privately, allow herself to hope.

"I did," she nodded. "Master Gallweather had much to teach, and the ...freedom was refreshing." She lifted her hand to aide in Minyas' takeoff, and sat beside Lilith on the bench. "I heard from my father that you were called home for a time. I trust everything is well with your family?"

[veiledviper]

"I would," Lilith murmured, and when Ambrosia sat next to her, she shifted closer. Not enough to be obtrusive, of course. She was never so presumptuous. Enough though, to make it appear as if Ambrosia had captured her interest for now. "Freedom," she said, soft, "is fleeting. It is good you were allowed it, for a time."

At the question about her family, her gaze flickered down to her daemon, who regarded her impassively. "Lillian had a bit of a relapse." Her voice was even, and revealed nothing. "But yes, she is feeling much better now. And what of your family?"

Sköll stretched languidly, and then once more rested his head on his paws. "I am sure her sisters are still harpies."

Lilith's mouth twitched, imperceptibly, but she said nothing more.

[serpentsilver]

Ambrosia was always aware of those around her. Their proximity to her, their movements, their moods. And she was also always prepared for shifts in any of these things, to keep herself in a defensible position at all times. She was not one to enjoy surprises. Physical closeness, touch, signs of such... familiarity were not things to which she was accustomed. Her family was not demonstrative in that fashion, though her sister Anastasia occasionally had fits of neediness, when Ambrosia would be forced to attend her, to brush her hair, help do her make-up, to prove an affection she did not feel.

To say that she was uncomfortable with contact of the physical nature would be nothing less than a massive understatement. But with Lilith, she somehow felt more comfortable. Lilith was careful with her. Careful to never assume such familiarity, to never come too close. And strangely, sometimes Ambrosia thought that it would not be so bad if she did.

"It is something that cannot be taken for granted, certainly." She had cherished hers, while knowing it would not last. "It is best to enjoy it before it is gone." Her eyes followed Minyas' flight for some minutes, before she turned to regard her companion.

"I am sorry to hear it," she said. "Please send her my sincerest well-wishes, when you next write."

She was quiet, once more watching the bat dip and dive through the air, as she considered her family. "They are well enough. Father works. My sisters are courted. It is..." she paused for a moment, before continuing. "It is as it should be."

[veiledviper]

Skoll was restless, suddenly, and stood up, shaking out his fur. He too, moved closer to Ambrosia, though not too close, and stared up at her expectantly, wagging his tail. Out of the corner of her eye, Lilith shot him a sharp look, but he ignored her.

"You are so unaffectionate," he chided Lilith. His voice was almost playful. "I wonder if she will be different. I'd like to test this."

Instead of entertaining him by responding, Lilith pointedly ignored him, and redirected her attention to Ambrosia. "I hope you will have the opportunity to enjoy your freedom again, soon." A pause, and then she added, "Mother and Father are promising me a personal holiday, upon graduation. They would like me to study abroad, broaden my horizons." She watched the bat swoop through the air for a moment, and said softly, "A rare opportunity." She was silent for a while, and the slight cant to her shoulders, her faraway expression, suggested a rarely-seen vulnerability.

Finally, she said, "I will be sure to mention your well-wishes. Please send your family my regards as well."

[serpentsilver]

The wolf stood in front of her, looking remarkably like her great-grandfather's house dog, who had always begged to be petted, and whom she had always ignored. But this was different entirely; the wolf was a manifestation of some part of Lilith, and this was something she did not want to ignore. She tilted her head to the side, regarding the creature with level gray eyes. "Does he wish me to pet him?" she asked, unsure of the proper way to respond to his advances.

"A personal holiday..." She said it almost wistfully, as though such a thing could only be dreamed of. And in a way, that was so. Her family had planned her every move from the day she was born, and though she had been given time with Master Gallweather, it had adhered to a strict curriculum her father had set. For Ambrosia Sterling, there was very little in the way of personal time, no matter how much of her day was spent alone. "Do you look forward to it?" Perhaps a silly question, if Lilith's expression was anything to go by. They were both daughters of old, pureblood families, much was similar in their upbringings. Of course such an uncommon occasion would be anticipated.

"I am to write them soon, I will include your consideration in my letter."

[veiledviper]

Lilith's gaze flickered to the wolf, and then back to Ambrosia. "It seems so." A pause, and then, because she did not see the harm in it despite Sköll's behavior, "You may, if you'd like." She passed a thought to the wolf, to let it be known in no express terms that if he misbehaved in any way, she would make him pay for it. She had no qualms about keeping any part of herself under control, whether or not it would cause her pain in the long run. She was well-accustomed to such, after all.

"I do," she said, which was a vast understatement. A chance to escape from her home, even for a short period of time, was beyond exhilarating. To do what she pleased when she wanted, to escape from under the domineering nature of her father, or the unrealistic expectations her mother had for her. It was akin to living one's life beneath a microscope, a stifling and restricted environment that stunted growth and development. She thought Ambrosia might feel the same way, but she doubted she would admit it. That was just as well: Lilith knew how to read between the lines. "The opportunity to learn on my own," to escape, was the unsaid thing, "should be enjoyable."

[serpentsilver]

Slowly, Ambrosia reached out, resting her hand on the wolf's head for a moment. His fur was spiky at first touch, the long guard hairs rough, but the undercoat when she pressed down was rather more lush, soft. It was pleasant, she supposed. Warm. She ran her fingers through the fur down the side of Sköll's neck to his shoulder, her movements awkward and clumsy, more uncertain than she would have liked. She stopped, for a moment, frowning slightly. Ambrosia did not enjoy appearing inexperienced at anything, no matter how... trivial.

"I thought as much." She did not turn to look at Lilith as she spoke, instead focusing on the creature's reactions to her touch, the way he tilted his head when she scratched at the base of his ear, how his back arched when she pressed her hand along his spine. It was not difficult, she decided. As with most things, the more you watched, the more you learned. "Do you have plans for what you intend to study? Where you will go?"

[veiledviper]

The realization of what was occurring dawned slowly on Lilith. It started with the strange, discomfiting feeling of being out of place in her own skin: first at the tips of her fingers, and spreading outward, sending tingling, warm paths up her arm. Then it continued: the phantom brush of fingers against her throat, her jaw, and with each brush of Ambrosia's hands on the wolf, so grew the intimacy of what Lilith felt through their shared connection.

She tensed, suddenly, like a rubber band being tugged too tight, and turned mechanically to watch the wolf with an expression between surprise and slowly dawning horror. The anger that she normally held down on began to simmer under the surface, make her composure go awry. Her cheeks flushed; her breathing picked up. It was too warm, too warm and fast, and it was happening without her permission. Without her prior knowledge. Her hand clenched into a fist so hard that her knuckles went white.

No wonder the...creature had been so eager. Ambrosia's words sounded distant suddenly, as if spoken through a vacuum. It was barely heard over the rush of blood in Lilith's ears, the snapping, biting anger and confusion at this contact, the not-unpleasant warmth. She had to stop this, immediately.

"Ambrosia--" Her voice caught, and involuntarily, she shivered. She stopped. She could not be so obvious. Instead, she whistled to the wolf, and passed a thought to him so excessively violent she was sure he would obey her. The wolf grumbled in her head, nudged his nose against Ambrosia's gloved hand (Lilith bit the inside of her lip so hard she could taste blood), and reluctantly went to sit down near his human.

Lilith swallowed, and when she was sure she could speak properly, continued the conversation as if nothing had happened. "I would like to expand my knowledge on the art of potions, like you have. Perhaps I will...seek to study our government. There are many things I would like to change about our world, as a whole. Or simply...travel and nothing else, for a time. There are many options, when one has the freedom to make choices." A pause, and then: "I was thinking of starting in Spain."

[serpentsilver]

A chord of laughter rippled through Ambrosia's mind and she looked up, momentarily startled. Minyas. She frowned at him as he swept down to light on her shoulder, disapproving of his apparent mirth. It unnerved her when he appeared to know more than she did, even more when he seemed so pleased by his knowledge.

She was aware, vaguely, of a... shift, in Lilith's demeanor, but the bat began to speak then, drowning out the sound of Lilith calling her name, capturing her attention before she could wonder at the wolf's return to Lilith's side more than briefly. "I would like to meet your friend more intimately" he said, "she seems interesting." There was something about his tone that caused her to narrow her eyes, that raised her suspicion, but she could not disagree. Lilith Dupond certainly was interesting.

"Spain? As good a starting point as any," she said. "I am sure you will learn much there, and wherever else your travels take you." She would have continued, inquired as to what it was that Lilith wished to change, but Minyas squeaked impatiently across their mental link, and though she was loathe to give in to such demanding from anyone or anything, she was curious as to what he wanted, and what Lilith's reaction to him would be.

"Ah, it seems that Minyas wishes to become more... acquainted with you."

[veiledviper]

In the brief moment that Ambrosia glanced up to watch her daemon, Lilith glanced down to hers to regard him coldly. He barked at her, and if a wolf could look self-satisfied, he certainly did. Lilith made a faint noise of disgust and turned away. She could still feel her skin tingling, still feel the ghostly touch of fingers against her limbs. He would pay, and pay dearly, for his deception, regardless of whether or not he was a part of her.

"I have always been found of Spain," she said, "and so I thought it would be a good place to begin. Thank you." She thought to elaborate further, but Ambrosia mentioned her daemon wanting to meet her properly. She had a brief moment of indecision, rare, for her. If she touched the creature, there was a large chance that Ambrosia would feel the same disconcerting sensations she'd felt.

Still, it might be curious. And perhaps, mildly amusing. "Ah, I see." She held out her hand then, for the bat. "Very well. May I?"

At his side near her feet, Sköll snorted, and sat up to watch this exchange carefully.