Post by Jude Dorrian on Jul 9, 2008 21:21:17 GMT
ooc: This was set on the 6th of July, lol...
"Open it."
Whatever had passed between them- whatever it was- was now gone; flushed out by Tameron's holiday spirit. It was the 6th of July, a special day for the Dorrian family. Today, Jude turned 17 years old. And his 12 year old sister was overcome by a combination of joy... and jealousy.
"I'm not even a teenager yet!"
"Come September, you will be," Jude reminded her.
"That's weeks away," she groaned. "I'll be in third-year... bloody hell, Jude. That's scary!"
"I've only got two more school years to go," he told her. "That's scary. What will Orchid Hill do without me?"
"Be far better off, no doubt," Tameron scoffed. "Jude, come on. Y'all have to open it."
His eyes watched the present warily. "Y'all didn't have to get me nothing."
"Oh, c'mon!" she giggled. "You pull this'un every year- but no-one's buying it! Look-" she parted her satchel, and Jude saw the tell-tale glint of unopened parcels.
"Aw... er... wow, okay," Jude pushed his hat back, scratching his head. "Gee... er, Tameron... who are they all from?"
"Your friends?" she rolled her eyes. "Remember them? I mean, they only went home about a week ago, but-"
"Okay, okay!" he smiled, "so how long did it take you to arrange all this?"
"Not long- I just told everyone I know you know and- hey! Hey, what are you doing? Get- off- me!"
Jude didn't quite hear his sister as the impulse to strangle her in a hug possessed him momentarily, but the feeling of her struggling frame against him got the message over quickly enough. Laughing at the color of her cheeks as he let go, Jude leaned forward and took the square package she'd deposited in front of him. As he lifted it, Jude felt the cool metal surface beneath it through its thin paper. He traced its surface, finding an uneven, bumpy pattern.
"It's a frame," he told her.
Tameron pulled a face. "Y'all are meant to open it first, oh mighty all-knowing fingers."
Jude grinned, and ripped the present open. He had guessed correctly, of course- it was a frame. But somehow, it still managed to surprise him. Decorated across the top of it was the simple message, "I love you," and there was a photo within it... him and Tameron, when they were still kids, sitting outside the orphanage on a lazy summer's day that had almost faded from Jude's memory...
"Well?" Her eager face appeared over the top of the frame. "D'you like it/2
"Y- yeah." Jude's voice was oddly hoarse. "Yeah, Tameron, I... do. It's great."
"Good," she tugged the frame from his loose grip and tossed it to the side. "Okay, Jude- who next?"
"Um..." Jude's eyes were still focused on the frame. It had landed at an awkward angle. "Surprise me."
As Tameron turned away to her satchel, Jude's arm snaked out and gripped the photo frame. He slid it back across the floor towards him, and tucked it safely within his own bag.
"Lee."
Jude smiled. "Alright. Let's see it."
"It says here to consider it from both him and Madeleine since he forked out so much for it," chuckled Tameron. "I swear, I didn't think the present was gonna arrive on time, but it came this morning-"
Onto Jude's lap rolled a strange-looking, carved wooden statue. He picked it up, frowning at the little creature it depicted, whilst Tameron continued to read from the card.
"He says it's of Romany origin. Apparently he's having a great time on the campsite with 'Maddie'." She paused. "What does he mean by on the campsite?"
"Madeleine's a gypsy," Jude reminded her, "for want of a better word. They must've gone to visit her family."
"Huh. Well Kira's not with them."
"No?" Jude shrugged. "No. I guess she wouldn't be. Has she sent me something?"
"Why, yes."
"And have y'all been reading through all my cards?"
Tameron didn't seem the least bit self-conscious of the ripped envelope in her hand. "Why, yes."
"Thanks."
"I'm only doing my sisterly duties."
"Just hand over the goddam present."
She smirked, and passed him a checkered blue and white bag; a pretty thing, with the words, "For Jude," skimming along the edges of one of the white squares. Carefully, Jude tore through the tape with sealed the bag, and dipped his fingers inside...
It was a book- 'To Kill a Mockingbird'.
"She says..." Tameron opened the card, "They talk like you do!"
His eyes skimmed down the first page, and he decided he liked it.
"Well. Not quite. But they are Southerners."
"Not Texas?"
"Uh uh."
"Then she's just being thick," Tameron rolled her eyes. "Okay... okay..." Her hands closed around another gift. "Jack."
As she pushed the soft package towards him, Jude's hands ran over it, and he noticed with a small frown that it was surprisingly well wrapped. Tameron watched his hands skim over it.
"Y'know, that berk told me y'all already knew you were 16, so what was the point of celebrating?"
He laughed as he tore open the present. A scribbled card fell out, and Tameron snatched it up before he could.
"Apparently, someone called Miranda chose and wrapped the present," Tameron said slowly. "She's from Texas, so Jack reckoned she'd know what to buy."
"That would explain this." Jude unfolded the contents of the parcel to reveal a long (and slightly large) NFL T-shirt for the Dallas Cowboys. "Obviously, Jack doesn't know we live in Houston."
"But sure," chuckled Tameron, "ain't the Cowboys better than the Houston Texans?"
"How the hell should I know?"
Still chuckling, Tameron reached back into her bag, and Jude set the T-shirt aside; watching her expectantly. Suddenly, as she was foraging, her eyes lit up, and she pulled out a white envelope. This was unopened.
She dropped it in his lap. "Look."
Jude frowned, picking it up. "I thought y'all opened all my cards?"
"That ain't a card. Look- it's a letter."
"A letter?" Jude slit the envelope open. "Who on... oh."
"Yeah. I know."
It was from Dakota.
Hey, Jude...
Don't y'all ever get tired of that little joke? I know I would. But then again, I haven't got your patience. Not to mention that's a really awesome song. I was singing it the other day, actually. It just wouldn't get out of my head! Dad was gonna kill me; he kept singing that, 'Na, na, na, na,' bit over and over, because he doesn't know any of the words. I felt kind of guilty after that.
He's got me a new form out for another school, since Orchid Hill didn't work out so well. He knows I missed him and the others, so he's getting me a place at a more local school, over here in Texas. Did you know there was one? Lots of local magic schools are beginning to spring up all over. There's one called the Emerald Valley Institute in the north of Ireland, and there's another in Poland, called... the Silver Wings Academy for the Gifted. Odd names, huh? There's a couple scattered across Asia and Africa, and one up in New York, and now here, in Texas! It's called... the Luanima Association. Not quite so pretty as Orchid Hill, is it? I liked it there, y'know. But I guess the homesickness was too much for me to cope with.
Oh, god, here I am going on about me. Hey, Jude, let's try again. How are you? Well, I mean, you should be pretty happy. You're seventeen- Happy Birthday! You're practically an adult; awk, my lil' Jay-Jay's growing up! And how's Tameron? And Ailith- y'all doing okay? I hope so. You really love her. Yeah. Y'all don't stop loving people. It doesn't work like that- not for you. D'you know how rare that is?
Y'know, something strange happened to me the other day. There's this... guy who lives across the road from us. Molly's friends with him- she's one of my step-sisters- but today, she wasn't here, so he sat down and talked to me instead. It was weird; he's never even looked at me before. But he seems really nice. His name's Jude too! I couldn't believe it- but he doesn't have a hat like yours. And he's got this kind of fluffy blond hair. It sticks up all over the place. I think it's meant to be his... 'do', or something. A hat would muck it up. And no, before you ask, he ain't gay.
... at least, I think he ain't.
Dad thinks that if I go to Luanima, I'll make a whole bunch of new friends. He thinks I need friends, but I really don't... think... I do. I've got enough on my plate right now- Molly, Brooke and Alison are constantly chattering around me, and my brothers Harry, Robin, John, lil' John and Kevin keep trying to make me play soccer with them. I think it's 'cause they heard I was a Warrior while I was at Orchid. That automatically makes me, 'tough'. And although Dad's made them promise not to ask me about it, they know my childhood was also pretty 'rough', so that only adds to 'toughness' of moi. One day, when I came out of the bathroom, I was just wearing a towel, and I think lil' John saw my scars, 'cause I heard him gasp behind me. I dunno if he told the others or not... but later on, he came over and gave me a big hug and asked me if it hurt.
He's only 8, God bless him.
Am I back to me again? Sorry... I didn't mean to do that. I really didn't. It's just... oh God, I'm sorry I haven't written before now. Y'all did a few times, but I just didn't know how to reply. But it's your birthday, so I thought, yeah, let's do this right. It's okay, if, y'know, you don't reply, but I'd sure... like it if you did, Jay. I'm really... scared about this whole Luanima thing, even though I know it's necessary. My powers are beginning to get out of control. The other day, I managed to electrocute Brooke's goldfish when I was trying to feed them. All five little fish fingers floated to the top of the tank, burnt to a crisp. She saw it happen and... well... she freaked out a little bit. Even lil' John couldn't calm her down, and she usually listens to him. She was so mad, she chased me out of the house with a mop. But Jude- again, really weird- jumped in the way and tackled her to the ground. It took her a while to stop crying, but he bought her an ice-cream, so she felt better after that.
Jude's a nice guy.
Is that just something that comes with the lot of you? But, no, Jude's not you. Jude's Jude. You're... Jay; my Jay. Sorry. I apologized for calling you that at the Station, didn't I? Gee, I'm an awkward talker. Or ain't y'all noticed yet, haha?
Em... yeah. I'll shut up now. Please write back...
Ilove miss you.
Xo.
Dakota
"What did she say?" Tameron asked, her eyes full of wonder as Jude tucked the letter into his shirt pocket.
Jude looked up at her, and after a few short seconds, he smiled. "She says, 'Happy Birthday,' and wants me to know she's starting up at a new school called the 'Luanima Association'."
Tameron pulled a face. "What kinda dumb name is that?"
"You forget, dear sister, we go to a school called, 'Orchid Hill'."
She laughed. "Alright, next present..."
Jude's relaxed smile remained in tact, but his heart continued to beat faster and faster, more than likely beating a dent against the back of the letter.
"Open it."
Whatever had passed between them- whatever it was- was now gone; flushed out by Tameron's holiday spirit. It was the 6th of July, a special day for the Dorrian family. Today, Jude turned 17 years old. And his 12 year old sister was overcome by a combination of joy... and jealousy.
"I'm not even a teenager yet!"
"Come September, you will be," Jude reminded her.
"That's weeks away," she groaned. "I'll be in third-year... bloody hell, Jude. That's scary!"
"I've only got two more school years to go," he told her. "That's scary. What will Orchid Hill do without me?"
"Be far better off, no doubt," Tameron scoffed. "Jude, come on. Y'all have to open it."
His eyes watched the present warily. "Y'all didn't have to get me nothing."
"Oh, c'mon!" she giggled. "You pull this'un every year- but no-one's buying it! Look-" she parted her satchel, and Jude saw the tell-tale glint of unopened parcels.
"Aw... er... wow, okay," Jude pushed his hat back, scratching his head. "Gee... er, Tameron... who are they all from?"
"Your friends?" she rolled her eyes. "Remember them? I mean, they only went home about a week ago, but-"
"Okay, okay!" he smiled, "so how long did it take you to arrange all this?"
"Not long- I just told everyone I know you know and- hey! Hey, what are you doing? Get- off- me!"
Jude didn't quite hear his sister as the impulse to strangle her in a hug possessed him momentarily, but the feeling of her struggling frame against him got the message over quickly enough. Laughing at the color of her cheeks as he let go, Jude leaned forward and took the square package she'd deposited in front of him. As he lifted it, Jude felt the cool metal surface beneath it through its thin paper. He traced its surface, finding an uneven, bumpy pattern.
"It's a frame," he told her.
Tameron pulled a face. "Y'all are meant to open it first, oh mighty all-knowing fingers."
Jude grinned, and ripped the present open. He had guessed correctly, of course- it was a frame. But somehow, it still managed to surprise him. Decorated across the top of it was the simple message, "I love you," and there was a photo within it... him and Tameron, when they were still kids, sitting outside the orphanage on a lazy summer's day that had almost faded from Jude's memory...
"Well?" Her eager face appeared over the top of the frame. "D'you like it/2
"Y- yeah." Jude's voice was oddly hoarse. "Yeah, Tameron, I... do. It's great."
"Good," she tugged the frame from his loose grip and tossed it to the side. "Okay, Jude- who next?"
"Um..." Jude's eyes were still focused on the frame. It had landed at an awkward angle. "Surprise me."
As Tameron turned away to her satchel, Jude's arm snaked out and gripped the photo frame. He slid it back across the floor towards him, and tucked it safely within his own bag.
"Lee."
Jude smiled. "Alright. Let's see it."
"It says here to consider it from both him and Madeleine since he forked out so much for it," chuckled Tameron. "I swear, I didn't think the present was gonna arrive on time, but it came this morning-"
Onto Jude's lap rolled a strange-looking, carved wooden statue. He picked it up, frowning at the little creature it depicted, whilst Tameron continued to read from the card.
"He says it's of Romany origin. Apparently he's having a great time on the campsite with 'Maddie'." She paused. "What does he mean by on the campsite?"
"Madeleine's a gypsy," Jude reminded her, "for want of a better word. They must've gone to visit her family."
"Huh. Well Kira's not with them."
"No?" Jude shrugged. "No. I guess she wouldn't be. Has she sent me something?"
"Why, yes."
"And have y'all been reading through all my cards?"
Tameron didn't seem the least bit self-conscious of the ripped envelope in her hand. "Why, yes."
"Thanks."
"I'm only doing my sisterly duties."
"Just hand over the goddam present."
She smirked, and passed him a checkered blue and white bag; a pretty thing, with the words, "For Jude," skimming along the edges of one of the white squares. Carefully, Jude tore through the tape with sealed the bag, and dipped his fingers inside...
It was a book- 'To Kill a Mockingbird'.
"She says..." Tameron opened the card, "They talk like you do!"
His eyes skimmed down the first page, and he decided he liked it.
"Well. Not quite. But they are Southerners."
"Not Texas?"
"Uh uh."
"Then she's just being thick," Tameron rolled her eyes. "Okay... okay..." Her hands closed around another gift. "Jack."
As she pushed the soft package towards him, Jude's hands ran over it, and he noticed with a small frown that it was surprisingly well wrapped. Tameron watched his hands skim over it.
"Y'know, that berk told me y'all already knew you were 16, so what was the point of celebrating?"
He laughed as he tore open the present. A scribbled card fell out, and Tameron snatched it up before he could.
"Apparently, someone called Miranda chose and wrapped the present," Tameron said slowly. "She's from Texas, so Jack reckoned she'd know what to buy."
"That would explain this." Jude unfolded the contents of the parcel to reveal a long (and slightly large) NFL T-shirt for the Dallas Cowboys. "Obviously, Jack doesn't know we live in Houston."
"But sure," chuckled Tameron, "ain't the Cowboys better than the Houston Texans?"
"How the hell should I know?"
Still chuckling, Tameron reached back into her bag, and Jude set the T-shirt aside; watching her expectantly. Suddenly, as she was foraging, her eyes lit up, and she pulled out a white envelope. This was unopened.
She dropped it in his lap. "Look."
Jude frowned, picking it up. "I thought y'all opened all my cards?"
"That ain't a card. Look- it's a letter."
"A letter?" Jude slit the envelope open. "Who on... oh."
"Yeah. I know."
It was from Dakota.
* * *
Hey, Jude...
Don't y'all ever get tired of that little joke? I know I would. But then again, I haven't got your patience. Not to mention that's a really awesome song. I was singing it the other day, actually. It just wouldn't get out of my head! Dad was gonna kill me; he kept singing that, 'Na, na, na, na,' bit over and over, because he doesn't know any of the words. I felt kind of guilty after that.
He's got me a new form out for another school, since Orchid Hill didn't work out so well. He knows I missed him and the others, so he's getting me a place at a more local school, over here in Texas. Did you know there was one? Lots of local magic schools are beginning to spring up all over. There's one called the Emerald Valley Institute in the north of Ireland, and there's another in Poland, called... the Silver Wings Academy for the Gifted. Odd names, huh? There's a couple scattered across Asia and Africa, and one up in New York, and now here, in Texas! It's called... the Luanima Association. Not quite so pretty as Orchid Hill, is it? I liked it there, y'know. But I guess the homesickness was too much for me to cope with.
Oh, god, here I am going on about me. Hey, Jude, let's try again. How are you? Well, I mean, you should be pretty happy. You're seventeen- Happy Birthday! You're practically an adult; awk, my lil' Jay-Jay's growing up! And how's Tameron? And Ailith- y'all doing okay? I hope so. You really love her. Yeah. Y'all don't stop loving people. It doesn't work like that- not for you. D'you know how rare that is?
Y'know, something strange happened to me the other day. There's this... guy who lives across the road from us. Molly's friends with him- she's one of my step-sisters- but today, she wasn't here, so he sat down and talked to me instead. It was weird; he's never even looked at me before. But he seems really nice. His name's Jude too! I couldn't believe it- but he doesn't have a hat like yours. And he's got this kind of fluffy blond hair. It sticks up all over the place. I think it's meant to be his... 'do', or something. A hat would muck it up. And no, before you ask, he ain't gay.
... at least, I think he ain't.
Dad thinks that if I go to Luanima, I'll make a whole bunch of new friends. He thinks I need friends, but I really don't... think... I do. I've got enough on my plate right now- Molly, Brooke and Alison are constantly chattering around me, and my brothers Harry, Robin, John, lil' John and Kevin keep trying to make me play soccer with them. I think it's 'cause they heard I was a Warrior while I was at Orchid. That automatically makes me, 'tough'. And although Dad's made them promise not to ask me about it, they know my childhood was also pretty 'rough', so that only adds to 'toughness' of moi. One day, when I came out of the bathroom, I was just wearing a towel, and I think lil' John saw my scars, 'cause I heard him gasp behind me. I dunno if he told the others or not... but later on, he came over and gave me a big hug and asked me if it hurt.
He's only 8, God bless him.
Am I back to me again? Sorry... I didn't mean to do that. I really didn't. It's just... oh God, I'm sorry I haven't written before now. Y'all did a few times, but I just didn't know how to reply. But it's your birthday, so I thought, yeah, let's do this right. It's okay, if, y'know, you don't reply, but I'd sure... like it if you did, Jay. I'm really... scared about this whole Luanima thing, even though I know it's necessary. My powers are beginning to get out of control. The other day, I managed to electrocute Brooke's goldfish when I was trying to feed them. All five little fish fingers floated to the top of the tank, burnt to a crisp. She saw it happen and... well... she freaked out a little bit. Even lil' John couldn't calm her down, and she usually listens to him. She was so mad, she chased me out of the house with a mop. But Jude- again, really weird- jumped in the way and tackled her to the ground. It took her a while to stop crying, but he bought her an ice-cream, so she felt better after that.
Jude's a nice guy.
Is that just something that comes with the lot of you? But, no, Jude's not you. Jude's Jude. You're... Jay; my Jay. Sorry. I apologized for calling you that at the Station, didn't I? Gee, I'm an awkward talker. Or ain't y'all noticed yet, haha?
Em... yeah. I'll shut up now. Please write back...
I
Xo.
Dakota
* * *
"What did she say?" Tameron asked, her eyes full of wonder as Jude tucked the letter into his shirt pocket.
Jude looked up at her, and after a few short seconds, he smiled. "She says, 'Happy Birthday,' and wants me to know she's starting up at a new school called the 'Luanima Association'."
Tameron pulled a face. "What kinda dumb name is that?"
"You forget, dear sister, we go to a school called, 'Orchid Hill'."
She laughed. "Alright, next present..."
Jude's relaxed smile remained in tact, but his heart continued to beat faster and faster, more than likely beating a dent against the back of the letter.
