we all get lost sometimes... (vi)

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Well, River and Vi's parents probably expected them to go to the ball together, so River supposed that he had to ask her. Still, he was nervous about it even though he was sure that she would say yes for proprieties sake and all. But, why should he be nervous? He'd done everything he promised her he'd do. He'd changed. He was braver, colder, stronger, tougher, everything she wanted. He had even stopped talking to Liv, which was killing him, but it was necessary at the time he had thought. He regretted that now. Almost as much as he regretted beating the leaving crap out of her boyfriend, Xavier, only a few days ago. He wondered if Vi had heard about that and what she had thought...

It was lunchtime and he found her in the Great Hall, sitting at the Slytherin table. He took in a deep breath and crossed over there, sat down next to her, and turned toward her all in one fell swoop. "Vi, got a minute?"

@vi

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Vi was sat with her fellow Hexens at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall, as per usual. And just as usual, Viovinnia was rather quiet. Lately she had found her thoughts mostly preoccupied with thoughts of a curly, blonde haired Quidditch player and cinnamon gum. She cared very little for anything else other than her studies. So, she was fairly out of it in terms of conversation today as she sat down picking at her food. She wasn't all that hungry. The weird fluttery feeling in her stomach had been bothering her quite a bit lately. It was a very foreign feeling to her and it made her feel a little uneasy at times. How could she ever explain her infatuation with a Gryffindor like Dustin to her "friends?"

The Slytherin was just slowly finishing off her mashed potatoes when there was movement next to her and along came a voice. She knew the voice, of course, and it didn't ignite any fire underneath her to quickly turn around. No, Viovinnia slowly set down her fork as she finished her last bite of her potatoes and then slowly turned to look at her fiancé. A smirk spread across her face at the Ravenclaw. She had, of course, heard of River's recent run-in with a fellow Ravenclaw, Ondina's brother if she wasn't mistaken. So, because of that Vi welcomed River's presence at the Slytherin table all the more. "Well, well, if it isn't Mr. Tough Guy."

@river

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She turned to him with that smirk and River smirked back, smugly. He'd be lying if he said that it didn't feel good to have her not shoo him away on sight, and to say what she did, even if she was being condescending. "I prefer 'Mr. Confident' or 'Monsieur Handsome," he replied with a nonchalant shrug. He leaned one arm on the table and raised an eyebrow at her, "but if the shoe fits. How's your food?" it was amazing how much better he had gotten at speaking to Vi without sounding like he was shaking in his boots. But something had changed him. Something. Or someone... someone that wasn't this particular blonde here now.

@vi

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The smug look River seemed to be wearing was an unfamiliar one to Viovinnia, so she couldn't help but raise her eyebrows, slightly impressed. When River then tried to give himself a better nickname than what Vi had given him, the Slytherin's eyes widened more, but she still wore the same smirk. "My, my," she mused. "Someone seems to have woken up on the right side of the bed this morning." She rest her chin in her right hand and patted the seat next to her with he left. "Food's fine, darling, but tell me - what's with the act?" Her voice was still mocking sweetness, but her face was a mix of pure seriousness and mockery. Like she could not believe there was a chance in Hell River was being serious with this. It had to be an act.

@river

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River loved the way she raised her eyebrows at him, he really did. Not necessarily a romantic kind of love, but it was something that made him happy. When her eyes widened, though, he'd worried he was about to get pummeled. But she spoke, and luckily that wasn't the case. He shrugged, trying to seem nonchalant as she spoke about him waking up on the right side of the bed. She patted the seat next to her and he quickly took it, leaning one elbow onto the table himself.

Darling? Well, that was... fun.

She asked what was with the act, and he knew she was mocking him. He laughed, leaning slightly forward, "thought I'd try to be a little charming before officially asking my betrothed to the ball, darling" he could feel his confidence waning and he swallowed, straightening up again. "I mean, we should, right?"

@vi

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The sudden change in attitude from River was odd. But it was the type she wouldn't mind letting sit at her table. However, she was still convinced it was some kind of act. But what was his angle? When River leaned his shoulder on the table, Vi sort of made a little production of doing the same thing with an overenthusiastic look on her face. She was being nice, but it was like the way she was acting was still somehow making fun of him. His next words wiped all traces of over enthusiastic anything right off her face. Instead, Vi quickly sat back and furrowed her brow at him in confusion.

It was a good, solid minute before Vi found the words to say. Her eyebrows were still furrowed in slight confusion as she leaned forward to him to talk a little bit quieter now. "You - you really want to?" She asked him, taken completely aback by his asking at all. It wasn't a bad idea. Their parents would certainly be pleased. And with pleased parents, that meant a good place to live, money after graduation... but, then there was Dustin. And she couldn't help but wish it was him sitting in front of her and not River.

@river

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Vi seemed genuinely surprised that he was asking her this. He stayed silent, though, as he waited for an answer from her. She asked if he really wanted to, even repeating a word. "Yeah," he said, way softer than he had meant to. "Yes, I do," he repeated, louder and a little more confidence this time. He felt himself sinking back into old bad habits, and he tried to straighten his shoulders.

He cleared his throat. "So, Viovinnia Nott, will you go to the ball with me?'

@vi

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Viovinnia had not been expecting River to actually ask her to the ball. In fact, she had had no intention of even going. She was probably going to go home and spend the holiday at the Nott mansion, as usual, where it was dull and boring and house elves were decorating the house. But then again, she thought of Dustin. He didn't even know she was engaged. What would he say if he did? Viovinnia's eyebrows furrowed together still, looking at River as he spoke, then spoke up louder a second time. She blinked for a quiet moment before she finally found her voice again. "Uh, sure. I guess," she said, her uncertainty very clear in her voice, whihc was very unlike Viovinnia. She didn't really care to go to the ball, especially with River, but... as long as it made their parents happy, right?

@river

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Oh, this was so romantic. Especially that uncertain answer she gave him. It was strange hearing that tone in her voice. She was always so confident. So sure, so everything he wasn't. "Alright," he said, giving a nod. He didn't know what to do now, though. So he just turned toward the table and reached for an apple, brining it back to him and holding it in both hands. "Perfect," he added. Looking at the apple for a moment as if he was incredibly interested in how it came into existence.

@vi

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This was weird. This was so beyond weird that Viovinnia was actually speechless. She watched the Ravenclaw as he picked up an apple and looked at it. What had gotten into him? It seemed as though he had transformed and Vi didn't know what to think about it. She avoided the eyes of her clique as she turned her whole body to face him so that she could feel some sort of privacy. "Are you sick or something?" She came off harsh again this time, her eyebrows narrowing into a little glare. It was almost scary how out of character this was for the Ravenclaw.

@river
we can probably wrap this up in the next few posts!

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She asked if he was sick and he looked up, shaking his head, his face confused. "No. I'm fine. Just," he shrugged, leaning forward a little, "taking your advice to heart. You told me to shape up, didn't you?" he reminded her. Then, he did something unbelievably brave. He lifted a finger and tapped the end of her nose. He froze after he pulled his hand away, not breathing for a few seconds. Then, he cleared his throat and pushed to stand. "I'll see you there," he didn't wait for her to say anything before turning and walk away.

@vi
(End or you can do one more