Throngs of People Rushing By (Viola)

[Deleted]

The entire school was freaking out about the upcoming Yule Ball and Brandon was trying to think of a time when he'd seen things so crazy here. He couldn't think of anything. And why? The whole situation wasn't that big of a deal in his eyes. Granted, that might have to do with the fact that he didn't have a date, but still. All it was was a dance. It wasn't like they would never get the chance to dance with people again. Lily Potter proved that the other night when she had her own dance party in the Room of Requirement. If people wanted to dance, they would find a way to do so. Still, the school was practically buzzing with excitement, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. While he found it annoying, he also recognized that Hogwarts needed this. After last year and everything that went down, they needed a change; something that would lift their spirits.

Brandon was bored as his mind thought over all this. He stood on the moving staircases, watching people as they walked by, whispering in excited voices to one another. Despite his inward annoyance, he smiled. At least the Ball would be over soon. Then people could stop freaking out about it.

@viola

[Deleted]

The Yule Ball was coming. Viola wasn’t sure how to feel about it, really. It seemed like it could be fun, if the dance at the Room of Requirement was any indication of how the ball was going to be, but at the same time, everyone was hyping it up to an extraordinary level. Viola wasn’t sure if they were officially going to the ball with Maria or not, but until they got an answer in the negative, they were assuming that the flamethrower, in the absence of any of her other toys being available, was going to choose them as an escort of sorts. There was someone else that Viola hoped they’d see at the Ball, but they weren’t sure how Roxy would feel about going to the Ball with them, so they hadn’t wanted to ask.

Viola was trying to find a vantage point from which to observe all the hustle and bustle of people preparing for the Ball, and spotted a platform near all of the moving staircases. By the time they navigated to the platform, though, there was someone else there, evidently people watching, too. “Fancy seeing you again.” Viola greeted Brandon. “Having fun?” People watching was Viola’s favorite pastime, so they hoped the answer to their question was yes.

@brandon

[Deleted]

Brandon was pulled out of his inward muses and annoyances when someone joined him. Of course, he had a good position for people watching and he wasn't the only person that liked to do that, so he wasn't surprised by someone appearing. He looked over to see it was Viola. "Fancy that," he nodded and smiled in greeting. Then she asked if he was having fun and Brandon shrugged, "Sure. Just watching people. Everyone is all hyped up because of the Yule Ball." She probably already knew that; it wasn't news at all. He just hoped he didn't seem bitter or anything. He wasn't bitter. "You?" He wondered if she was in a better mood than she was before, but she didn't seem upset about anything and her allergies weren't acting up so he didn't see why she wouldn't be happier.

@viola

[Deleted]

Viola nodded when Brandon said that he was having fun people watching. “It’s my favorite pastime.” They informed him, not that he cared. “Though normally I wouldn’t choose such an obvious place to do it.” Anyone who bothered to look up could see the two of them, peering over the railing and talking. Viola didn’t like it when people saw them people watching, because it led to a lot of awkward conversation they didn’t want to have about their observations and the like. “Guess you can say I’m part of the hype.” Viola snorted. “I dunno. Might be kinda cool to get to dress up. Maybe we’ll get to see one of the Champions fall on their face during the dance.” If Viola had to put money on who was going to fall, they would definitely think the Greyback boy would; the Beauxbatons boy probably would combust if he so much as thought about making a mistake, though then again, maybe the Hogwarts girl wouldn’t be much better if she didn’t learn to stop making googly eyes at the boy she was presumably dating.

@brandon

[Deleted]

Brandon was surprised. From their last interaction, he didn't really expect Viola to like watching people so much, but in a way it made a little sense. He knew she didn't get along with people too much in person, she told him that much the first time they met. He nodded slowly, like he was measuring what she'd said. "That's cool. I didn't peg you as a people watcher last time. No, it's not the best spot if you're trying to be inconspicuous, but it works pretty well for me because it is so obvious. Everyone can see me here, so they seem to just ignore me and continue on with what they're doing." He wasn't really sure if that made complete sense, but it was true. There were only a handful of people that really noticed him there enough to come talk to him or mention it to him later. Brandon used to love to hang out here. In fact, when he wasn't in the mood to people watch here, he would often play music instead. 

Brandon snorted when she commented that a champion might fall on his face. That would be a sight to behold. "I hadn't thought about that, but I might be secretly planning for it now," he answered, still watching the people in front of him. "It'll be an interesting night, no matter what happens," Brandon said in what he hoped was an objective tone of voice. He didn't want to seem openly bitter, though that was how he was feeling inwardly. 

@viola

[Deleted]

Viola raised their eyebrows when Brandon said he hadn’t pegged them as a people watcher. They had never been told that before. “I watch people so I don’t have to talk to them.” Viola said with a shrug. “Besides, how am I supposed to tell people the truth if I’ve never seen them before? I’m not stupid enough to try to conjure the truth out of thin air.” And they were honestly a little offended that Brandon would believe that. Then again, he might not even have known that was Viola’s whole modus operandi, the truth telling thing. Well, if he didn’t know before, now he did, and that was all that Viola really could ask for. “I don’t know. I think it’s better when I can tell people about their lives without them ever realizing I was a part of that life.” It was the shock factor that Viola was drawn to – it was their own sort of drug.

“You got a date?” Viola questioned, while they were on the subject of the Ball. “And before you ask, I’m not offering, just curious.” That could have been a disaster. “If one of them does fall, I’ll be looking for you in the crowd.” Viola added with a wink. They doubted it would actually happen, but it was fun to fantasize about.

@brandon

[Deleted]

Ahh. She watched people so she didn't have to talk to them. That made more sense in Brandon's mind. At least, it fit in with what he already knew about her. He cocked his head to the side a little. "That makes more sense," he told her. If she had a goal to always tell the truth, then people watching would be a good way to find it. He shrugged, "Especially if your focus is always telling the truth."He didn't sound it like he was doubting her, just in a factual, I-understand-now kind of way. "I don't normally tell people what I see. I just store it for later information."

His head shook immediately. "Nope and I'm not asking anyone." He laughed at her comment that she wasn't offering. He didn't think he would offend her with what he said, since she liked the truth, but it was nice to know anyway. "I just don't have anyone I'm interested in right now so I'm just going on my own, but if they fall I'll do the same. I'll probably be laughing though." Not that he was hoping for anyone to fall ... but it would be memorable. And hilarious.

@viola

[Deleted]

Brandon seemed to find some sense in what they had said, which was a good thing. “I wouldn’t say I focus on telling the truth, really.” Viola said slowly. “More like it kind of…happens. Like, I feel itchy when I have to tell a lie, or when I have to keep something from someone. And it’s unpleasant, so I just tell the truth in the first place.” And unlike most people, Viola didn’t like to sugarcoat the truth. It didn’t make the itching feeling go away, and it was just their nature as a person to be blunt. Maybe it had been inherited from their dad, Viola mused. He didn’t beat around the bush, either. “Sounds kind of creepy when you say it like that.” Viola said with a smirk when Brandon said that he just stored the information. “You’re not a secret stalker, right? Because that puts a damper on the whole rapport we had.” Viola wasn’t sure what they would call their relationship with Brandon, but it was a positive relationship, the thought.

“Good for you.” Viola said when Brandon said he wasn’t going to be asking anyone to the Ball. “Come find me. We can dance together for a dance or two.” That way he wouldn’t look pathetic, standing against the wall all night.

@brandon

[Deleted]

That was definitely interesting. Sure, Brandon wasn't one to lie constantly, but he never felt that way when he did. It wasn't a particularly terrible thing for him to lie, it just wasn't his favorite thing. "I think that's a good thing," Brandon said after a minute. At least, it was a good thing once he knew that she was always going to tell the truth. At least he wouldn't have to worry about her saying things and not meaning them. He laughed, "Well I'm definitely not trying to be creepy, but I'm not surprised it seems that way. No, I'm not a secret stalker." He rolled his eyes, "I'm just observant." 

He was surprised when she told him to come and find her during the dance. "I'll do that then," he agreed with a smile. He hadn't been expecting that. So far, most people that knew he hadn't asked anyone and they were angry at him, saying there were plenty of people for him to ask. He just didn't want to. He didn't want to create an expectation when there wasn't one.

@viola

[Deleted]

Brandon thought that their lie aversion was a good thing, and Viola shrugged. “Sometimes it would be nice to be able to get away with saying something stupid wrong without feeling like I’m about to explode or rip my skin off.” Because even the smallest lies could set them off, and it wasn’t fun. Brandon said that he wasn’t trying to be creepy, and Viola snorted. “Intentions don’t mean anything, just results.” They said with a pointed look at Brandon. “You know, the highway to hell is paved with good intentions and all that crap.” They continued. “As for being just observant, you can be that without being creepy. I do it all the time.” Being alone most of the time helped with that, because when people thought Viola was just sitting and eating their meal, they were actually scanning the Great Hall and making observations. “Great. I hope you’re a good dancer, because I want to have toes by the end of the night.” There were other people they knew who weren’t such great dancers that they were going to dance with anyways, but Viola really did want to have their toes intact at the end of it all.

@brandon

[Deleted]

Well when she put it like that, it obviously did not seem like such a good thing. "That makes sense," he said noncommittally. He didn't want to offer his opinion when it definitely wasn't going to be the right one, no matter what he said.
At the same time, if she was annoyed with him, she would probably go ahead and just lay it out there. "Well I'm not doing anything creepy, I'm just watching people. So it's fine." He laughed then, "Are you telling me that I'm going to hell?" Brandon joked. He was not quite sure if he would catch that he didn't mean it, but he said it all the same. "I never said that I was creepy when I observe, that's what you said and I happen to disagree with you." He wasn't creepy. He just liked to learn about people. Stalkers didn't pay attention to everyone, they paid attention to one person or one group of people. Brandon didn't do that. He didn't single out who he was watching; he simply watched everyone as a whole. He rose an eyebrow when she said she hoped he was a good dancer. "I can hold my own dancing. Your toes should be just fine when it comes to dancing with me." Unless she threw her toes in the way just to prove him wrong. Then he might accidentally step on her.

@viola

[Deleted]

Viola snorted when Brandon said that he wasn’t doing anything creepy. “So the act of watching can’t itself be creepy?” They challenged him. Some would argue that it was unnerving, creepy even, to be watched by someone they didn’t know, especially in such a blatant way. They snorted again when Brandon asked if they had meant to imply that he was going to hell. “I don’t know about you, but I probably will. I don’t want to climb all the stairs up to heaven, anyways.” Viola didn’t know if Brandon would catch their reference to a Muggle rock song, since they weren’t sure about his blood status, but they thought it was funny even if Brandon didn’t understand it.

Viola nodded when Brandon said he was a good dancer. “Good for me, then.” Their toes could get a break for at least one dance. “How’d you learn to dance, then?” Viola asked, since nearly everyone seemed to have a story about how they had come to learn how to dance, or why they had never bothered to learn the skill.

@brandon

[Deleted]

Brandon rolled his eyes, "If it is, then you're creepy too. You just admitted that you watch people too, you know," he reminded, though he didn't think it was necessary. Apparently she did think she was creepy too, since she said that she'd be going to hell, most likely. Brandon laughed, unable to help himself. This conversation with her was just too interesting. "Well, if I do, at least I know I'll have company," he told her simply. 

He shrugged when she asked how he learned to dance. "When I was young. My mum and dad taught me how. When I got older they split up so I didn't have much practice, but I still remember." He wasn't sure why he told her so much and so little both at the same time, but he didn't really like talking about his parents. When he thought of his mum and his stepmom he felt nothing but guilt for leaving them, even though he felt like he did the right thing. Besides, his dad really needed the company. He shook his head, pulling himself back to the conversation at hand. "How did you learn how to dance?" 

@viola

[Deleted]

Viola shook their head at Brandon. “It’s only creepy if they know that you’re watching them. And like I said, no one ever realizes that I’m watching them.” Unless Viola wanted them to notice, in which case they were probably trying to make their target uncomfortable in the first place. Viola chuckled when Brandon said he’d have company in hell. “I hear it’s nice this time of year.” They said with a smirk.

“My mum’s an actress.” Viola explained when asked how they had learned how to dance. “She needed to learn how to dance for a part once, and it was easier to rope me in as a partner than it was to get my dad to do, it since he needed to work and all.” Viola shrugged. “I learned the guy’s part, which is actually pretty convenient, since most of the time I’m dancing with girls.” Which brought up a question – when they danced with Brandon, they were going to need to know the girl’s part. It was just the same thing, but reversed, so Viola didn’t think that they would have too much trouble with the actual steps, but remembering that they weren’t supposed to be the one leading? That was going to be tricky.

@brandon

[Deleted]

Brandon laughed quietly. "I've found that most people don't pay enough attention to their surroundings to realize that I'm watching them. So does that make me not creepy then?" Whatever she said, it didn't really matter. It was an interesting, though strange, conversation and he was enjoying himself. "Good to know," he responded with a small nod, not really having anything else to add on to that.

Brandon smiled when she explained how she'd learned to dance. It sounded like she enjoyed herself, which was a good thing. "So am I going to be dancing the guys part or the girls?" He asked with a grin, assuming that she'd realize he was teasing. Though if she asked him to dance the girl's part, he'd give it a go. No spins though. He would draw the line there. 

@viola