Today was the day that Amari was going to do ~ART~. She knew she should've been inside trying to make more friends (which was turning out to be harder than she expected), but this just seemed more appealing today. People and schoolwork could wait a little while.

At breakfast, she noticed the outdoors looked exceptionally Autumnal and that was when the inspiration struck. She grabbed a banana from one of the tables and ran back down the dungeons to grab her sketchbook and pencils. After wandering around the campus grounds for a little while, she made her way to the bridge and paused right in the middle of it to take a good look at the scenery. This was the spot for her. She could see the water, and some orangey red leaves off in the distance. It was perfect.

Amari slipped on the sweater she made sure to bring with her, opened the sketchbook to a brand new page and began the ~art~.

Noah couldn't believe they were well into fall already. The summer and September had both flown by so the boy was determined to make the most of the remaining autumn months before there would be snow on the ground. Sure, he enjoyed winter and everything but spending autumn at Hogwarts was generally pretty beautiful. He would go for a run today. Yes. That was a nice activity.

He had just made it past the courtyard and was about to start his timer on his watch so he could measure how long it took him to do a lap when he spotted a sketchbook. Curious as ever - he decided to see if he could see what the young girl was sketching or painting. THAT'S AMAZING. Drawing, colouring, or ARTING in general was not something he was good at. He was much better at dance as an art form than anything else. "What are you drawing?" he asked with a smile. "Oh. Sorry. Excuse me, what are you drawing? if you don't mind me asking?"

Amari wasn't sure how much time had passed, but she was fairly far along on her drawing when someone was suddenly nearby and saying words she couldn't quite hear. It wasn't until the person, a boy apparently, spoke again that she zoned back in (y'know like zone out but zone in???) and could actually hear what he was saying.

She looked up at him and blinked a few times, trying to get the image of the scenery out of her brain and take in the person standing next to her. "Oh hi!" Amari smiled at him and then looked back at the sketch. "It's...well...it's Autumn, I guess?" Of course, she wasn't dumb and knew autumn was a season, a concept, more than a thing to draw, but she wasn't quite sure how else to explain it. Once she could color in all of the firey colors, anyone would be able to tell what she was drawing. "I know kind of...bleh...right now. I'm just doing the sketch and then I'll add all those pretty colors." Her favorite color was pink but red, orange, and yellow all together were a close second.

Looking back up at the older boy, she tilted her head to one side and said, "Oh, and if it wasn't clear, I don't mind at all. Do you like to sketch?"

It was a really lovely fall day. Even Nova could admit that! Yes, her rough exterior would make anyone think she didn't care about anything at all. But...she really loved fall. It was one of her most favorite seasons of the year. The explosion of colors in the falling leaves, and the crisp air always made her a little happier.

Today was an exceptional fall day and she just couldn't keep herself indoors, so she grabbed a book from her collection and headed to her favorite reading spot: the wooden bridge. It was over a very large canyon, very old and creaky, but she still loved it nonetheless.

She quickly noticed the other two students, but decided to stay away from them. She didn't want to interrupt and she wasn't one for much talking. She quickly found a spot next to a post and sat down, cracking open her book.

It was such a lovely day.

Ashley had been drawing the scenery for a while from sight, and then she had been drawing the beach that she loved the most from memories. It had been a long time. She looked up. There were other people here. She cautiously approached the one who was reading. "What are you reading?" she asked softly. Reading was something that Ashley could relate to. It had the same effect as drawing or dreaming or surfing or playing video games or exercising or doing rpgs. It removed you from where you were and put you in a different spot. In Ashley's case, it was always the same spot.

He glanced down at the girl with the sketchbook as she looked up at him. Autumn.... She was sketching autumn? "Leaves changing colours?" he offered with both eyebrows raised cause he couldn't raise only one. Raising an eyebrow was difficult for the boy. He hadn't figured out the right muscles to do so- so both were raised. "What colours?" he asked, wondering how she saw autumn. He saw it in hues of red, fiery orange, and yellow with the occasional splash of green or brown.

Did he like to sketch? Noah froze. Eh. He didn't really sketch. He ran a hand throw his hair awkwardly. "I don't sketch. I dance... I can't draw to save my life but I like when other people can draw."

"How long have you been drawing for?"

Pursing her lips, Amari took a few seconds to think of a way to explain how she was drawing fall itself. "W-well, yeah, leaves changing colors but also, just, the essence of autumn." That was something an artist would say right? "You know how artists always talk about the deeper meaning of their art? I want this to have something like that." She wasn't quite sure if just saying this automatically meant the work would have a deeper meaning, or if it really would just be leaves changing colors. She'd have to ask her older sister about that seeing as she seemed to have all the answers. But hearing the boy ask about the colors she'd be using made Amari so excited she bounced on her heels a bit. "Okay, color scheme! So I'm definitely going to use the usual colors, but I was thinking maybe I could throw in something a little different..like purple or something? I'm just not so sure how it'll look. What do you think?" Maybe she didn't know this guy, but there's no reason his opinion couldn't be valuable afterall.

When the boy froze up, Amari did the same. Just in case he noticed a huge spider crawling on her shoulder or something, y'know? But then he started speaking again, so she brushed off her shoulders juuuust in case, and relaxed when she felt nothing out of the ordinary. "Ooooo people probably tell you this a lot, but I'd love to see you dance! She enjoyed dancing as well, but she wouldn't exactly call herself a dancer. Everybody in her family danced, it was just normal for her. "And I understand wanting to watch people draw. I love watching people act, for instance, but I definitely couldn't do it myself." Amari just felt like she was so much herself, she didn't know how to act like anyone else.

How long had she been drawing? "I mean, technically, since I started finger painting probably?" Did that count? "Not like I was some prodigy or whatever, I've just loved all kinds of art for as long as I can remember." Really truly, she loved all kinds of arts. Not just painting and drawing and whatnot, but also music and dance and whatever falls into that catergory. "Have you been dancing forever?"

The essence of autumn? She sounded like she knew what she was talking about and Noah certainly wasn't an artist- well in that sense - he had a different art form. He continued listening to her, understanding the deeper meaning way too well. "I understand that. I want my dances and the dances I choreograph to have a connection. I want the audience watching to feel the emotions not only through the music but through the movements." He paused, thinking through his dances. Sometimes there wasn't a deeper meaning and that was okay too.

He listened to her speak, nodding every now and then and raised his eyebrows when she asked his opinion. Purple? He wasn't so sure but when he squinted at the shadows underneath the nearest trees, he supposed purple was in there. "I think it makes sense. It'd belong in there...I think you should." The purple would help those shadows nicely.

Noah full on blushed when the young girl admitted that she'd love to see him dance. It was a HUGE compliment and he didn't take it lightly - even if he didn't know her well. She seemed genuine in her excitement in wanting to see him dance. "Absolutely. I'm observing your art so I think its only fair if I repay you." He paused before politely inquiring. "Do you dance?" He nodded. Watching someone draw was soothing. And watching people act was fascinating in itself.

That's incredible, thought Noah as she mentioned that she had been doing it for many, many years. "Incredible!" So sounds like it had always been a passion of hers. Noah offered a lop-sided grin at her question. Had he been dancing forever? He decided to joke with her a little. "Oh yes, every since the womb. Mum used to complain that I'd be dancing..." he admitted before smirking. "I'm joking. I haven't been dancing forever.. I started off with martial arts when I was five and then when I turned seven... I wanted to study ballet so I did." And he still kept up with it. Ballet, modern, occasionally some ballroom dances.

Now this was someone who really knew what he was talking about. Amari nodded along while he explained his dances and she knew he was someone she'd be able to talk to about this kind of stuff for a long time. She'd had friends back at Ilvermorny who loved her sketches but not many who were into the same thing. "I bet people definitely react that way. Especially if you're putting your all into the dance. People are bound to feel something from it." That was something she always believed. She always made sure to do things with love so others could appreciate the work, even if it was something like cooking a meal. (Not that she could cook much, but grilled cheese sandwiches counted as far as she was concerned.)

She was actually surprised when he said yes to the purple. Maybe he actually did know something about art. She bet he had a very artistic eye but was too critical when he did draw something. "Okay, awesome! I'll make sure to credit you when this one piece makes it big." Amari laughed at the idea. She'd never even considered selling anything she'd ever drawn, but no one knows what the future holds!

WHAT. Her eyes grew a little wider when she noticed his cheeks turning pink and she smiled even bigger. She never imagined asking to see him dance could make him blush of all things, but it made her happy. Although she was hoping he wasn't blushing out of embarassment or something. "I like the way you think. Where do you normally dance here at school?" She imagined he could dance in the room of requirment or something, but for all she knew his common room had a secret dance room or something crazy. "I dance for fun, yeah! I don't how people don't dance, honestly. But just a little...jig, y'know?" And before she could think too much about it, she started doing a lil jig that definitely would've been seen as embarrasing. Who needed music to dance anyway??

Amari never once thought she was incredible for drawing at such a young age, but she really appreciated that he saw things that way. But now she had to stop dancing because she was laughing at the idea of him dancing in his mom's womb. Now that would've been weird. "Oh wow, now you must have been the youngest dancing prodicy in the world!" Of course she knew he was joking but that made it all the more fun. "Can you imagine a teeny tiny baby just wiggling all over the crib and busting a move??" And imagining that made her snort quite loudly, she was pretty sure the other kids around her could hear it. And now she was the one blushing. Great. Putting her hands on her cheeks to hide it, she took a deep breath and calmed down a little. "Okay, I could already tell you were cool, but you just got even cooler! Martial arts and ballet and whatever dances you can do? Now that's talent."

Aboli wasn't quite sure where her brain was at lately.

Was it here? Was it there at all? She didn't quite know how to explain her emotions, which was no help at all when one's mother was a therapist. She couldn't even...talk face to face with her to try to figure things out. All she knew was that she felt like a walking soul most days. Running through the motions. Enjoying small moments of happiness, but for the most part, Aboli felt... lonely.

Truly lonely.

She was surrounded by friends, mostly, but perhaps she had made the wrong decision in talking with Noah about her feelings. And she certainly missed having someone clinically logical to talk to, like Valencia. Maybe she needed Royse....

Hmm.

She sat on the bridge, leaning over the railing and peering into the depths below. Maybe turning 17 was just a difficult year. Becoming a real woman and all...an adult woman.

Avalon was packing up after a few hours of studying for OWLs. It was a surprisingly pleasant day, and although it was still a bit chilly outside, she appreciated that spring was on its way. Just as she was about to head inside, the Ravenclaw noticed a pensive-looking figure sitting on the bridge to the grounds.

Heading over, she realized the figure was Aboli. "Hey there," she said with a sigh, plopping down next to her and mimicking the Slytherin's position. "Everything okay?" Avalon didn't want to prod, but Aboli looked like she was thinking about something pretty deeply, and she'd always be happy to lend an ear if a friend was in distress. Especially a fellow prefect.

Aboli felt her presence before she actually saw her. She always could feel when someone was nearby; it was easy to tell. "Hey," she said smally. "Well...things could be better, but I suppose they could also be worse, too," she let her shoulders slump as she glanced over at the Ravenclaw prefect. "Being a sixth year is rough. Can't wait until seventh year...with NEWTs looming in..."

Merlin, that wouldn't be great. Not fun. Not fun at ALL. "Getting geared up for your OWLs? I don't.........feel jealous of you at all right now," she chuckled juuuust a little, allowing herself to feel not so tensed up for a moment. Just TALK and be NORMAL, Aboli...

Avalon nodded her head, commiserating with the Slytherin. OWLs were hard enough - she was not at all looking forward to NEWTs. And then came the big decision on what to do with the rest of her life, which was becoming increasingly more confusing by the day. "Yeah. Exams rot," she said with a sigh, looking down over the bridge and into the depths below. She never noticed how high up it was.

She couldn't help but feel like there was something up with Aboli. Maybe something the sixth year wasn't comfortable telling her about yet. Avalon knew better than to prod - sometimes there were things that she herself didn't want to talk to others about, but she wanted Aboli to know that she was always there for her if she needed anything. "Well, if you ever wanna talk about anything, my ears are open," she said, reaching into her bag and grabbing a small box. Avalon opened the lid and offered some to Aboli. "Want some toffee? My parents owled me a package of sweets from Sugarplum's in Diagon Alley, but I'll never be able to eat it all myself." Candy always made everything better, and Aboli seemed like she could use a pick-me-up.

"Exams rot." Aboli had never heard this expression before, and it made her tilt her head to the side just a bit. It made sense, and she liked; therefore, she was adding to the back of her brain as an expression to continue to use. "They do indeed. You've got that right. However, sometimes they are a necessity of life. Not because they make sense, but because someone else has decided they are a necessity of life," which made Aboli roll her eyes just a little. She followed Avalon's eyes down below and then looked back at the girl.

Toffee, though. Toffee sounded good. She nodded, holding out a hand. "Sure. Yes, please. I don't feel that awesome currently. My parents haven't sent me a package in what feels like utter ages," she sighed and let her shoulders droop. "I think they're busy. Understandable....but still. I really need my mum's voice of reason right about now," which made her think even MORE about her Noah troubles.