sevent e e n (open)

[doodle]

Normally, Blaize might have been happy that it was his birthday, but that February ninth was a sobering day for him- it was the first birthday he would be celebrating without Emily. He had gotten a quiet parcel from his father at breakfast, it contained a nice wizard's watch, as it was customary for a young man to recieve a watch upon coming of age. Blaize had decided to keep it in the inside pocket of his robes, for easy access. He smiled a bit at the room, it was a comfortable-looking place, what it usually became for him.

There was a plush, over-sized armchair, a warm fireplace, and plenty of parchment, quills, and ink for writing pleasure. He plopped down in the chair, pulling out his manuscript for his novel. He had already edited it and resubmitted it to WizzHard Books, but he had made a copy to hold on to. Blaize absently began reading what he had written, knowing the words by heart. The story, although exciting and violent, soothed him. Blaize stopped after a while, it was quiet, all that could be heard was the fire popping in the grate. "Happy birthday, Emily," Blaize sighed.

[hungergames]

Evangeline pushed open the door to the Room of Requirement, brandishing her knife behind her back. Her already pale, sickly face fell, and her grip on the knife tightening at the sight of her cousin. Shit, she thought, plastering a falsetto smile upon her face. "Happy birthday Blaize," she replied softly, padding into the room. She was barefoot, in her pajama bottoms and t-shirt, now dark hair cascading down her back. However calm she appeared, her brain was chaotic, trying to find a way to dispose of the blade. If Blaize saw it, he'd know. His sister was dead for hurting herself, and if he knew his cousin was hurting herself like Emily had done... Evangeline was scared for her health if Blaize found out. Of course, her health wasn't well to begin with.

[doodle]

Blaize managed a small smile at his cousin, nodded when she wished him a happy birthday. "Thanks," said Blaize. It was the first time that day that someone other than his father had acknowledged that the day was the seventeenth anniversary of his birth. It was somewhat depressing, did he really have that few friends? Or had he shoved them all away after Emily's death? Blaize noticed Evangeline looking as if she were hiding something behind her back, but he didn't press, it probably wasn't his business.

[hungergames]

"Of course," Evangeline smiled, sauntering across the wall, away from her cousin. "Cozy place," she commented, eyes searching for a place to stash her blade. Finally, she found a bookshelf on the far wall, and she turned quickly, hoping desperately that Blaize wouldn't see a flash of the blade. She pretended to rummage through the titles, then, quickly, she shoved the blade to the back of the bookcase. Evangeline sighed, as if she didn't find any of the books appealing, then went to sit across from her cousin where another arm chair had popped up. Evangeline noticed the book in his hands, and smiled. She was well aware that Blaize was publishing a novel, and she was awfully proud of her elder cousin.

[doodle]

Blaize saw a quick flash, something like a shiny metal being moved quickly, but it was gone before he had the time to register what it was. Thinking it to be a trick of the light, or perhaps he was just seeing things, he did not inquire. "The room usually looks like this for me," said Blaize. It was a comfortable place, he could really take the time to think in a place like this. He allowed the silence to wash over them, he wasn't sure what to say.