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Post by Evangeline Gardan on Mar 15, 2007 5:29:58 GMT 10
All Evangeline wanted to do was make friends. When she had first come to Koalingo she was so happy about the new life she was going to lead. She had envisioned all the new friends that she would make and maybe even possibly find a boyfriend.
But all dreams were squashed when she realized that the name Gardan carried quite a reputation- and not a very good one at that. Every person she had come across so far either immediately disliked her or ran away in fear that she was like Kalika.
Evangeline laid down on the soft grass as tears shone on the corners of her eyes. She normally didn't cry. She was normally a smiling, laughing, joking-around type of girl. But these were not normal circumstances.
Tracing her finger through the air Evangeline made a steady stream of light emit from her fingertip and follow the patterns her fingers were making. It was all she could do to take her mind of the unhappiness she felt.
Hearing a cough, Evangeline lifted her head towards the source of the sound.
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Post by Alex Zander on Mar 16, 2007 8:50:13 GMT 10
Alex used to be in the grade higher then he currently was, until he repeated his fifth year for bad marks, Alex was now in the sixth year, having done much better the second time around. This of course led to him knowing quite a few of the seventh years, though this was not the case with this girl.
He had seen her around a bit since term started, but he did not know who she was. He had noticed, however, that she was currently sitting on the grass crying, and that was definitely not something he was willing to ignore.
He had made his way across the grass nearing where she was, he thought for a moment what he might open with, and found for once he was stuck… what could he say. What did one say to someone who was crying over a matter that they did not understand and probably had no right to enquire about. Alex was not known for his subtlety however, and so thought he might introduce his presence with the clearing of his throat, which ultimately came off as something of a cough.
“Hello there?” he said standing sort of behind her and to the left. He didn’t want her to realise he had seen her crying, unless she felt it was ok for him to see it.
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Post by Evangeline Gardan on Mar 16, 2007 9:24:27 GMT 10
Evangeline quickly wiped her eyes and turned around. "Um.. Hi... sorry..." She stammered assuming that the boy had indeed seen her crying. It wasn't hard to guess by her tear stained face, anyway. She smoothed down her jet black hair that had become messy and wild as the light winds whipped through it. She realized she had seen the boy who was standing in front of her many times in between classes and hanging out around the school. He was always surrounded by friends or at least had someone around him so Evangeline never really thought of coming up and introducing herself. Though she was normally outgoing, with the goings-on in her life at Koalingo thus far, she had become slightly intimidated of her peers.
Suddenly she giggled. She realized how odd she must have looked at the moment, clothes wrinkled, face red, sitting in the middle of the grass tracing light with the air. "I must look ridiculous to you right now..." She said softly not really trying to catch his eye. "My name's Evangeline... um... evangeline... uh..." Evangeline stuttered at her last name. It had become the bane of her existence as of late and really people tended to leave once they found out who her siblings were.
After giving it a second of thought she realized that if she was going to make friends, they would have to accept that she was a Gardan. Although nothing like her siblings, she was still part of that family. "My name is Evangeline.... Gardan...." She said and held her breath, bracing herself for what she thought was pretty much the inevitable blow up at her relations.
"What... What is your name?" She asked the boy hurriedly, hoping that the revealing of her last name wasn't going to kill off any sort of friendship she may very well develop with him.
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Post by Alex Zander on Mar 16, 2007 12:18:18 GMT 10
“The names, Zander,” he smiled to her and held out his hand to shake hers haughtily, “But really, what is there in a name but a label?” he added knowing this was probably more for his own benefit at finding out this girl was a Gardan, then anything else. He never really placed much stake in names; his family were quite wealthy, but because they were doctors and lived in the world of muggles (even though they were both a wizard and witch). Alex’s last name meant very little to the magical world, and that suited him just fine.
He had no intentions on being a part of muggle society when leaving school though and knew that this meant anyone could disagree with their families decisions and just hoped Evangeline was one of them, “Your name… he started; trying to focus on her first name rather then her last, “Isn’t it the same as the librarian? I think she is a squib, yeah?”
“It’s really funny you know? I have never met an Evangeline before, but now I know two?” he said smiling at her hoping this would settle how he felt about her last name. He would wait and see what kind of person she was before he condemned her to being like that stuck up snob Lucius was with. Or was he? You never could tell, they seemed close, but he had never seen anything in the way of affection between them.
“So…” he thought he might test the ground, since it was now quite obvious he could notice she had been crying, maybe she wanted someone to talk to. It was not that she felt obliged though. Did it really matter what his motivation was? He just wanted to help, “Something got you down?” he said feeling that this was off the cuff enough to sound as if he was not prying, but at the same time that he genuinely wanted to help her.
“You know, there is so much going on at the moment that doesn’t make a lot of sense, and it appears to be working against a lot of people’s moods,” he said looking at the girl and coming to sit near her without an invitation. Assuming that she would not mind, of course.
“Jay Rastan, for example!” he said as if he were about to tell Evangeline a story of great adventure and intrigue, “You know, just last night some friends and I were liberating a cow and he came along and froze us all when we went for a swim,” he knew that sentence didn’t really tell the whole story, but he wanted her to know there were some pretty whacked out people, and that she had every right to feel a little off.
“Godric’s been acting weird, Elouise has been a little more uptight…. Everyone is feeling it, so what about yourself? Is it anything in particular?”
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Post by Evangeline Gardan on Mar 16, 2007 15:17:40 GMT 10
"Nice to meet you Zander... I've never met a Zander...Is that your first or last name?" Evangeline smiled feeling more at ease with the boy since he didn't seem to lash out when she confessed her last name.
She listened with genuine interest as the boy rambled on about a bunch of people she didn't know. It saddened her a bit that throughout her time at Koalingo (however short it may have been) she had not made any friends and that her only real conversation with someone had just been at that very moment.
After he asked her about what was troubling her, Evangeline let out a heavy sigh. Before she could even think about it, her problems just started spilling out. She figured why not? He seemed trustworthy enough. And she really needed to tell someone understanding, about her problems.
"Well Zander, I'm pretty sure you know who I'm related to. I've come to realize in the short amount of time being here at Koalingo that the name Gardan is rather infamous. Everyone I've met so far has either hurried off in fear or hated me intensely as soon as tell them my name." At this Evangeline wiped a few stray tears that had begun to descend her cheeks. "I wish people knew that I am nothing like Kalika. I didn't even know someone could be as vile as her and that she's my flesh and blood makes it a lot worse. It's like I'm branded a beast just because I happen to be related to one."
Evangeline couldn't help it anymore. The tears took over as she tried, in vain, to wipe them away. "I only met Kalika before the start of this school year and already everywhere I turn I'm looked at like I'm exactly like her. And what's even worse is now she's after my head just because I was happy about pulling Emerindyl's sword. I am not a mean person, Zander, I'm really not... but yet I'm not even being given the chance to prove that..." Evangeline said sadly. She looked up and smiled weakly through her tears, "Until now, anyway."
Drying her eyes and finishing her rant, Evangeline laughed again finding her whole situation quite insane. "You know... I'm labeled a filthy blooded bastard by my sister, I'm labeled a monster by almost everyone I've come across... and really, all the people that have labeled me something don't know a thing about me. No one knows I like writing music and playing on the guitar. No one knows that I like butterbeer overflowing with whipped cream on the top. No one knows that I'm deathly scared of bees. And really I'm afraid, no one here, besides you, will ever get to know those quirks about me. Because they feel they already know me just by the mention of my name... so yes... names are just labels... by my label pretty much condemns me." Evangeline finished and flopped down on the grass so she laid staring up at the blue skys.
"You ever feel like nobody knows the real you?" She asked while gazing that the drifting clouds rolling overhead.
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Post by Alex Zander on Mar 16, 2007 16:10:12 GMT 10
Alex laughed when she started calling him Zander. At first he felt it was extremely natural because most of his friends called him Zander anyway. It wasn’t until she continued speaking his last name, and then asking him whether it was his last or first name, that he realised she had misunderstood him. That or he had not explained it correctly.
“My first name is Alex, but feel free to call me Zander, everyone else does,” he smiled and wondered if she would laugh about his name, “And before you say it, I know I know, Alex Zander… lame yeah? But the truth is my parents didn’t think of it that way when they named me… I wish they had, though then I might have some stupid name like… I don’t know… anything else,”
He nodded and listened in silence when she started explaining her issues. He could understand where she was coming from and could agree with her that the name Gardan did not bring happy thoughts even to him. He didn’t know a whole lot about Kalika though, only that she was in Ruberagon. Alex had never known an Emerindyl with a sibling in Ruberagon though and thought for a while how he might react if he did.
“Listen, seriously, don’t worry about it, anyone who is concerned about befriending you on the grounds of your last name, needs to get over themselves, honestly, like I said, it is a label, but no one can choose their family,” he said not wanting to ask the question playing on her mind. He knew Kalika had a brother in the same grade as her, and if this girl was also in the same grade, then did that mean they were triplets? But this girl looked nothing like her.
“You should be happy about pulling the Emerindyl sword, honestly, what did she expect you to do? Be so upset that you threw the sword on the ground and ran out of the Golden Hall shrieking curses because you didn’t get into the house your family expected you too? Be serious for a moment, we both know that would have been a ridiculous way to behave,” he said as he crossed his legs and started pulling out pieces of long grass and tying them together.
“Anyone that calls you a filthy blooded bastard needs to check themselves,” Alex said, his whole attitude becoming quite serious. He had never heard such a disgusting insult and did not appreciate the thought of it one bit.
“Is that really what your family is like? No offence sweet heart but I think you need to find a new family, you’re nearly of age, aren’t you? What does it matter to them which house you are in? By the end of the year you wont need them anymore, and who knows, you might get married soon enough and then you wont be a Gardan anymore,” He wondered if she would find it odd that he was talking about marriage, most guys generally didn’t, but as her marriage would have nothing to do with him, it was ok.
“No… I think everyone pretty much knows me, but that’s because I always behave like the person I want to be,” he said with a shrug and a grimace, “Honestly, its your life, and unless your Buddhist, then you only have one of them, so why should you waste your life trying to be the way everyone thinks you should be?” he nodded as if he was agreeing with himself before he fell silent, wondering if this was the kind of advise she wanted.
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Post by Evangeline Gardan on Mar 17, 2007 13:33:27 GMT 10
Evangeline listened as Alex talked, relishing more the fact that she was able to conversate with somebody and not be in a battle for her life and an added bonus was the fact that she was actually having a conversation besides the whole superficial 'hi/how-are-you' type of thing.
When asked if her family was really as terrible as she portrayed, Evangeline nodded half-heartedly. It wasn't something she was all too pleased about, always being reminded that she was only the daughter of her father's mistress and not the Lady of the household. But what was she to do, change the whole Gardan family's views on these things?
"Yea, unfortunately they are. More so, my sister is that way. Or should I say half-sister, as she always likes to point out to me. Supposedly I'm the bastard because my mother was Lord Gardan's mistress." Evangeline explained while shrugging. "I guess it just frustrates me. I'm not a freak of nature just because I wasn't born to Lady Gardan. but apparently they all think that way of me." Evangeline said giving her bag a little shake to get grass off of it. She heard a soft clinking and remembered the cold butterbeers she had put in the bag before heading outside.
Taking out two of the three she had with her she opened one for herself and offered the other to Alex. "Cold butterbeer on a hot day, can't really refuse that can you?" She asked grinning.
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Post by Alex Zander on Mar 17, 2007 19:00:46 GMT 10
Alex didn’t mind the girl, already, she seemed interested in conversation where as most people who knew Alex were more, ‘hey come here, lets do this,’ just because they knew he would be up for anything. And he did like doing things, and being active was part of his nature, but it was nice to just talk with someone every once in a while.
“Sucks about your family though, dude” Alex said as he looked at her trying not to look like he pitied her or anything. He tried to pull it off more as a ‘damn-your-Quidditch-team-lost’ but didn’t really know how good he was at doing it. He didn’t know how someone could dislike their family so much, but as he listened to her explanation it seemed clear they were not a very nice bunch of people.
“My parents are doctors,” he shrugged, thinking this might explain everything to someone who was from such a strictly pure heritage, “They’re both wizards… well I mean to say my mother is a witch,” he laughed hoping she did not have a fleeting image of Alex having two fathers… not that there was anything wrong with that. “They choose not to live in the magical world though, they drive cars, work in hospitals and… well yeah, a lot of people don’t like them for their choice, but the right people do,”
“Professor Emerindyl is always sticking up for them, though sometimes I don’t even think they deserve it, they are so muggle sometimes I think they might forget they can even do magic eventually,” he laughed, “Thanks, don’t mind if I do,” he grinned and took the bottle of cold butter beer, just the way he liked it.
“But I love my folks, they’re a little odd, admittedly, but they cool” he smiled and looked off into nothing.
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Post by Evangeline Gardan on Apr 11, 2007 19:14:51 GMT 10
Evangeline listened to Alex talk about his parents. She had to smile at how really muggle they sounded though they were both magical people by birth. "Hey... I say, whatever makes them happiest is what really matters, right?" Evan said laughing. She couldn't imagine a fully muggle-led life but from the sound of it, Alex's parents sounded happy with how the lived their lives so it couldn't be all that bad.
"So what do you do for fun, Alex... and what exactly is there to do for fun around here?" Evan said as she looked around and took in the surroundings. Where she was sitting now was actually a good place to indulge in her love of playing the guitar, a gift from a friend with a muggle father back in her hometown.
Looking around, Evangeline started feeling a little better about her surroundings. Maybe she would have a great year at Koalingo after all. Thoughts of her fued with Kalika and the Gardan side of her family seemed to disappear as she realized that though they were her family she would make friends with people that actually cared what happened to her... starting with Alex hopefully.
"Do you play any instruments?" Evan asked as she patted her bag which contained her guitar inside of it. She had been playing since her friend had given it to her when she was 7 years old. It was one of the only things that calmed her or made her truly at peace.
((Sorry for the late reply))
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Post by Alex Zander on Apr 23, 2007 18:40:28 GMT 10
“Instruments?” Alex asked not wholly understanding what she might have meant to begin with. It seemed like such a sudden change in subject that he didn’t notice right away that she meant something specific and had not just spouted off random words at him to kill a silence that might have threatened their discussion. He could sense that there was a degree of awkwardness emanating from her and hoped it was just first met jitters and not something he had done.
“Oh, you mean like, music?” the look he gave was one of finding this to be a peculiar question. He had never really thought about music before, no one had ever brought it up at Koalingo and that in itself was enough to make him wonder what a strange place this was. He had never touched an instrument since he had started at Koalingo, that didn’t mean though that he didn’t know how to play one.
“I dabble,” he said pulling a mock macho face. In honesty though he was quite good at piano and had won several awards in his youth, though that was in the muggle half of his life, and since he began at Koalingo, he had little to absolutely nothing to do with his muggle hobbies anymore, especially not now that things were so much more interesting, he thought on it though and realised he missed playing, even if it was only because his mother had requested it of him, “Piano,” he added with an embarrassed expression followed by a nod of the head which suggested she could move on with another topic if she found this funny. None of his friends knew, and he doubted many more of them would believe it.
“What’s that in your bag?” he asked having not paid much attention to it until now, and knowing that there were so many instruments this shape these days, which was funny as it was a most individual shape.
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