a little break (Duncan, brooke, open)

[Brooke Edwards]

Brooke hid her dissappointment about Duncan very well. She didn't change her appearance at all and her smile didn't even falter. Inside, something cracked, but Brooke knew that this just wasn't Duncan's fault.

"Oh," Brooke said, straining to sound excited. "You and Lilah then." She smiled when he said she was terrific. Brooke knew she would love having Duncan as a friend.

"I really like Katie," Brooke commented. "She so great. All three of us should hang out sometimes, it would be lots of fun." Brooke hadn't left Lilah out on purpose, she was just thinking about Katie instead. Brooke hoped that Duncan wouldn't notice too much of a difference now that she knew. Brooke's initial hurt was gone, but she knew she would have to pour it all out to Laelia later.

[Duncan Mowbray]

"Yea, Katie's great. She's how I got this mark on my face. She kicked me." Duncan said with a smile. "She does Tae Kwon Do and she says she's a second degree black belt. And I believe her cause I got my black belt at Tai Chi Chuan and she beat the cr... " Duncan stopped and smiled "defeated me soundly."

"I really do think you should study a martial art. They're great for control." he said.

"And Mist could use another freind too, if you're up to it. It might be a challenge to be her friend cause she kinda 'likes' me but.. I won't play one girl against another or cheat on somebody or.. whatever."

"I'm really glad I met you. It's nice to have girls around that aren't part of the drama." Duncan smiled at her.

"Hey Gobbi. Can you bring us a treat ? Something with lots of chocolate, especially for Brooke ?"

The house elf smiled "Of course, dears." Gobbi said. She looked at Brooke "What would miss like ?"

[Jaslyn Blink]

Jaslyn Blink entered the kitchens. Gobbi looked up at her. "OH!" Gobbi smiled and walked over to her. Jaslyn raised an eyebrow.
"Do I know you?" Gobbi smiled.
"Aren't you from the famous Blink family, the famous wizards of- "OH!" Jaslyn covered Gobbi's mouth. "Yes... but um, that's kind of a family secret." Jaslyn looked down slightly. "Er... any pudding left?"

[Duncan Mowbray]

Duncan looked at the newcomer "secret ?" he repeated with a gleam in his eye. "Famous Blink family ? Well that sounds like something I'll need to look into." the blue eyed blonde said.

He looked at Jaslyn "UNless you'd like to save me the effort and just fill us in on it."

[Brooke Edwards]

Brooke was glad that she had met Duncan also. Maybe it was for the best that they were both just friends. She smiled at him when he mentioned chocolate.

"Well, Gobbi," Brooke said, politely. "I'd like some pudding, with chocolate syrup on top and the creamiest banana cream pie you have thanks." She smiled at Duncan again. "Banana Cream Pie is my favourite."

When the stranger entered the kitchen, Brooke was immediately curious. The famous Blink Family? Brooke had never heard of them. She let Duncan ask the questions and hoped that the girl would willingly give them the answers.

[Duncan Mowbray]

Duncan looked at the quiet miss Blink. "Didn't mean to put you on the spot." he said, but he did intend to research he family.

He turned to Gobbi. "I ythink I'd like some chocolate chip cookies and a glass of milk."

Gobbi and her fellow house elves returned with everything everybody had asked for.

[Jaslyn Blink]

Jaslyn frowned. They were practically BEGGING her. "Well..." she began, sitting on a nearby stool, "It started, 3,569 years ago. My great great great great great great great great great great great great great great grandfather, Dino Monty Silly Tiz Blink, ... er, well he made a mistake, with a spell he was creating in... Egypt... and well..." Jaslyn winced at the memory, "he accidently created crucio." Then she looked up at Duncan and Brooke. "My family was one of the best supporters of... You-know-who, and they taught him... they taught him crucio. And now... my... my family expects me to be the next... voldemort i guess you could say, and I have to pass on the spell crucio, and because of me, me, people have and will suffer under the curse." Jaslyn sucked in a breath instead of letting tears fall. She just squeezed her eyes shut and stiffened on the stool.

[Brooke Edwards]

As Gobbi brought the desert around, Brooke's eyes lit up. Her hair turned a banana yellow, with some brown strips. Her eyes remained a fierce blue and they sparkled. Nothing made her happier than good old banana cream pie. She immediately dug in and got cream on the tip of her nose, making her laugh and scrinch her nose at Duncan. She devoured it quite quickly and then started on her small bowl of pudding. At the last minute, she remembered that there was cream on her nose and she wiped it off embarresed.

As Miss Blink told her story, Brooke's eyes opened wide and almost dropped her bowl of pudding. Crucio? Brooke wasn't so much a muggle-born that her uncle hadn't told her what that meant. She saw the girl getting upset and Brooke realized how much her family must pressure her. She felt a sudden sympathy towards Miss Blink and she frowned.

Brooke wasn't sure what to say. She was so incredibly surprised. Brooke looked at Duncan to see what his reaction would be.

[Jaslyn Blink]

Jaslyn opened her eyes again, breathed in and out. "And the best...the best way for them to teach me...Crucio..." she actually let a tear slip, "They use it on...me." Then she put her head down and bawled. Just bawled. And Slytherins do NOT bawl. And if her parents saw her, well, she couldn't even imagine.

[Duncan Mowbray]

"Well it doesn't sound like you want to be the next volemorte." Duncan said. Then his face shrouded over as he muttered "but Pan did warn of the coming of a dark lady."

He shook his head and rejoined the girls, not knowing if they would have caught his reference to a conversation with a greek god.

"Dumbledore had said that Tom Riddle made bad choices. You don't have to make those choices and if your family tortures you then find a way out. Hire a barister ( brit for lawyer ) and have yourself declared independant. Report them to the ministry of magic and have them sent to Akaban." he said, soundnig forceful and determined but not exactly supportive."

"You should talk to Lilah. She could sing you to sleep at night, it would help." Dunacn added. His eyes seemed to be looking beyond the world.

[Brooke Edwards]

Brooke was shocked. She didn't know the girl very well, but she wanted to reachout and put her arm around her for comfort. She felt absolutely terrible. Poor thing, Brooke thought. She ended up inching closer and giving Miss Blink a small hug.

She listened to Duncan's comment about Pan and frowned. Why was he mentioning a Greek God? Brooke decided she would question him about it later. In the meantime, she kept her arm around the sad Slytherin girl.

"Lilah's singing?" Brooke questioned, watching Duncan closely. "I didn't know she could sing." Brooke found this very curious. Brooke herself was a terrible singer, but she didn't have to sing anyways. Brooke's hair turned to a deep violet purple as she waited to Miss Blink to respond, hoping she wouldn't regect her hug.