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last online May 3, 2024 13:31:23 GMT -7
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Jan 16, 2017 17:07:15 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2017 17:07:15 GMT -7
Ev narrowed her eyes as she looked at Dustin. "How do I know you're going to teach me near your house? That's not what you're doing with ice skating," she pointed out, though it would make more sense for him to teach her closer to his house since that's where the bicycles would be. She smiled when he told her that he liked her alive. "Someone needs to," she teased, still not sure that meant he wouldn't push her down a hill. If he got the chance, he probably would.
Dustin argued, saying that she wouldn't let herself fall and Evelyn shrugged. "I don't know. The opportunity hasn't come yet, so I'm not sure. Also, I'm not sure if I could keep myself from falling." Really, if she lost her balance she would probably fall because she wouldn't know how to catch it again. She was just hoping that it wouldn't happen. "Of course I'll tell you!" Evelyn told him, even though he checked over his shoulder. How could he do that? How was he so comfortable with it? She skated with him until he asked her if she wanted to try on her own.
Ev nodded her head, taking a deep breath as she started to skate around. When she was going straight forward, it wasn't a problem, but the second she started to turn, she lost her balance. "Dustin!" She shouted, glaring at him when she found herself sitting on the ice. "This is your fault." It really wasn't, but she could blame him. She tried to stand up, but the skates kept slipping and after a few tries she gave up and just sat down, looking around for Dustin. "Help me?" She asked when she saw him.
@dustin
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last online May 3, 2024 13:31:23 GMT -7
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Jan 16, 2017 18:40:43 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2017 18:40:43 GMT -7
Dustin grinned at Ev. “Actually, we’re not that far from my house.” He informed her. He stopped skating for a moment to point towards a blur on the horizon. “That’s it.” He told Ev. She probably hadn’t realized how close they were to where Dustin lived, or that where they were was still Dustin’s parents’ property. “And I’d want to teach you someplace that I’m familiar with, so I don’t accidentally get us lost or something.” Getting lost in the middle of Muggle suburbia was not high on Dustin’s list of things to do.
“If I push you, will you be really angry?” Dustin asked, glancing innocently at Evelyn. Of course he wouldn’t actually shove her – just give her a gentle tap that might inspire her to lose her balance more quickly than she otherwise would. But Dustin didn’t have to wait long for Evelyn fall to herself, without any prompting. When she did, she insisted it was Dustin’s fault, and he frowned at her. “I didn’t touch you!” He protested. At least she had remembered which way to fall, so Dustin didn’t have to worry about taking her to a hospital to make sure her wrists weren’t broken or anything. Ev asked for help getting up, and Dustin skated over to her, digging his toes into the ice so he had something resembling traction when he helped her up.
@evelyn
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last online May 3, 2024 13:31:23 GMT -7
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Jan 16, 2017 21:42:12 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2017 21:42:12 GMT -7
Evelyn rolled her eyes, "How was I supposed to know that!" Her tone was exasperated, but that was mostly just because it was the kind of reaction Dustin would expect. Her eyes followed where he was pointed and she nodded when she thought she saw it. She nodded when Dustin said he wouldn't want to get lost teaching her. She narrowed her eyes as she turned her attention back to him completely. "Alright, but I'm trusting you not to pull any pranks on me while you're teaching me. That would just be mean." Not that she really thought that would stop him. She was half-thinking that he would do something any second to sabotage her.
Dustin asked if he could push her and Evelyn glared at him once more. "Don't push me," she told him firmly. At least if he did push her now, he would know that she was going to be angry about it. "You willed it to happen!" Evelyn argued when he said that he didn't happen. "You were hoping for me to fall and don't even bother denying it!" She took his hand to help herself stand up and then promptly let go so she could figure this out. She could be fairly stubborn when she wanted to be and now Evelyn was determined to figure out skating. On her own, if necessary.
She started forward once more, gliding quite smoothly to her relief. When she wanted to turn, she decided to take it a little slower than she tried a few moments earlier. It was extremely wobbly as she tried to keep her balance and there were moments when her arms waved up and down as she tried to keep herself from falling. Once she'd finally made the slowest turn in the history of skating, she smiled triumphantly and started forward when she hit a divot or a bump in the ice and felt her balance wavering once more and she fell promptly on her backside. "Not again," she moaned, annoyed at herself. She'd been doing so well!
@dustin
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last online May 3, 2024 13:31:23 GMT -7
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Jan 17, 2017 17:52:25 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2017 17:52:25 GMT -7
“You’re a Ravenclaw, you’re supposed to know everything.” Dustin informed Evelyn. He was glad that she didn’t know everything, though – having to explain his Animagus abilities, or worse, Viovinnia, to Evelyn didn’t seem like a fun time. Evelyn said that he wasn’t allowed to pull any pranks on her while he taught her, and Dustin smirked. “I don’t pull pranks.” He told her. That implied that he actually planned to do what he was doing. Dustin goofed off a lot, but pranks weren’t his style. “But I won’t do anything that you would consider a prank.” Ev’s definition of pranks was probably his entire goofing off schtick. It would be difficult not to do anything of the sort, but if it was the only way he was going to get Evelyn on a bicycle, Dustin would try his best.
Dustin snorted when Evelyn insisted that her falling was his fault because he had willed it to happen. “There are a lot of things that I will to happen that never will come true.” Dustin snorted. He wished he had that sort of control over the universe, but he didn’t. He wasn’t going to argue with Ev about hoping that she would fall, though, because that was totally the truth. Dustin stood nearby as Evelyn began skating again, following her as she turned, though he took it as a much quicker pace than Evelyn did. He was surprised that she had actually managed to do it while going so slowly. When she fell again, Dustin didn’t say anything, just skated over to offer his hand again. “You’re getting better.” He said after he had helped her up, just in case she was looking for encouragement.
@evelyn
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last online May 3, 2024 13:31:23 GMT -7
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Jan 17, 2017 22:18:44 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2017 22:18:44 GMT -7
Ev rolled her eyes when Dustin told her she was supposed to know everything. "No one can know everything, Dustin. There is an unlimited, immeasurable amount of knowledge in the world and not even a bookworm like me can know it all." She knew that he knew this- he had to! Still, she argued her point. Her eyes narrowed when he said he didn't pull prank. "Well, what is a prank to you?" she asked after a minute. It was very likely that they didn't define the same way, but she wanted to know what he thought he did when she thought he was pranking her.
"But this one did, so I'm blaming you for it," Ev responded immediately, bringing the conversation right back to the point. He came over to help her up again and Evelyn took his hand, grumbling under her breath about how she didn't feel like she was getting any better. She didn't like falling and she definitely didn't like not being able to get herself back on her feet. At the moment, Ev felt like she was at war. Herself versus the ice and the ice was winning, which Ev didn't like at all. Once she was standing upright again, Ev glared at the ice before deciding to try and go faster. If she was going to fall going slow, she might as well fall going faster. As long as she was careful not to hurt herself.
She propelled herself forward, glad that she at least understood the balance when she was going straight. Then it was time for her to turn and Ev slowed down, but not close to as slow as she was going before. She wasn't as fast as Dustin, by any means, but she was moving. And she didn't fall! Once she finished the turn successfully, she went forward until the momentum ran out and she stopped. She looked up and found Dustin. "I did it," she told him with a smile. "Now tell me how to stop." Demanding, yes, but he was used to her so he wouldn't care.
@dustin
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last online May 3, 2024 13:31:23 GMT -7
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Jan 18, 2017 9:26:53 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2017 9:26:53 GMT -7
Dustin sighed when Ev said that no one could know everything. He knew that already – he just didn’t dress it up in a bunch of pretty words the way she did. Evelyn asked what he considered a prank, and Dustin shrugged. “A prank actually has to be planned.” He told her. “Most of the stuff I do to you I think of in the spur of the moment.” Dustin paused, thinking. “And normally it involves some sort of punchline or something.” With pranking, the joy was all in the realization that the person being pranked had been fooled. There was never that moment whenever Dustin and Evelyn goofed around with each other – it was just expected.
Evelyn appeared to be angry at the ice itself for her inability to ice skate well, which amused Dustin to no end. It wasn’t the ice’s fault. If anything, it was Evelyn’s, for trying to master the ice in the first place. Then again, it could also be Dustin’s fault, since he was the one who had persuaded Ev to try ice skating. But no matter who got the blame, there didn’t need to be any animosity! It was just ice skating, and it was supposed to be fun!
Dustin rolled his eyes when Ev demanded he teach her how to stop. “Take a couple of deep breaths first, geez.” He told her. He wanted to teach her, but not if she was going to treat him like some sort of personal slave or something. “The way you stop on ice is by creating friction.” Dustin informed Evelyn. “So basically, just angle your skates so you won’t glide as efficiently.” Again, it was one of those things that Dustin had never been taught how to do formally – he just figured it out on his own.
@evelyn
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last online May 3, 2024 13:31:23 GMT -7
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Jan 18, 2017 19:07:22 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2017 19:07:22 GMT -7
Evelyn's eyebrows rose at his explanation of a prank, and then he compared that to all their exploits. "Well, I guess I'll take it as a relief that you don't plan on doing all that stuff to me." She laughed, thinking about all the stuff they did together. It was too much fun to mess around with Dustin. Kind of what she would imagine it would be like if she had a sibling. Dustin was the closest thing she had to that, right?
Dustin called her out, telling her to breathe and Ev realized that she was probably taking this way too seriously. She gave him a sheepish smile, "Sorry Dustin. I'm not very patient with myself sometimes." Especially when it came to learning new things like this. "I'll try to take it easier." She listened to his explanation of how to stop and nodded her head. She wasn't entirely sure she'd be able to do it, but she would try. She nodded, but she wasn't sure if she was going to focus on learning that right now. It seemed hard.
"I think maybe I'll try learning that next time," she said hesitantly, starting to move on her skates again. She wanted to go around once without falling, then she'd ask Dustin to just skate with her, or tell her what he liked so much about it. She tried to move confidently, but turning still made her nervous. She was pretty wobbly, but managed not to fall over. She held her hand out to Dustin, a pleading expression on her face. "This is a lot easier with you helping me," she told him in explanation.
@dustin
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last online May 3, 2024 13:31:23 GMT -7
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Jan 18, 2017 20:14:37 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2017 20:14:37 GMT -7
Dustin grinned at Evelyn. She said she was glad that he didn’t plan any of his more childish exploits, and he wondered if that had ever been in question. He wasn’t really the planning kind of person. It had taken him a lot of work to plan his getaway with Viovinnia, and even that had been born of spontaneity – him just blurting out the words ‘run away with me’. Dustin had to cut himself odd before he got too caught up in thinking about Vi and how brilliant it would be to be able to run away with her. He had a habit of smiling like a dope when he thought about his girlfriend, and he didn’t need Evelyn asking any questions he wouldn’t be able to answer.
“I know.” Dustin said simply when Evelyn said she wasn’t patient with herself. She was the same way on the Quidditch pitch, but at least there she had something to lose. Here she was just learning something new for fun. She said that she was going to take it easier, and Dustin just shook his head. She could try, but he was doubtful that after getting herself so hyped up she’d be able to calm down enough to take it anything resembling easy.
Evelyn extended her hand to him, and Dustin skated closer to her, wrapping his fingers around hers. She said it was easier to ice skate with him, and Dustin raised an eyebrow. “I always thought it was harder to skate with someone else.” He informed her. There was a greater chance of falling that way.
@evelyn
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last online May 3, 2024 13:31:23 GMT -7
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Jan 18, 2017 20:33:32 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2017 20:33:32 GMT -7
She nodded when Dustin said that he knew she wasn't patient with herself. Of course he knew. He knew her better than anyone, except maybe her parents. But then again, he did know her better than her parents. He knew about the magical side of her, the side that her parents couldn't understand, even if they wanted to.
She rolled her eyes when he said it was harder to skate with someone else than it was to skate alone. "Well, I'm assuming your learned to skate when you were a kid," she guessed, though he hadn't specifically told her that. "Maybe if you learned when you were older, you'd agree with me?" Or not. Dustin tended to like to do things on his own. At least, that was what Ev noticed. "So what do you like so much about ice skating?" Ev asked shortly. Sure, it was enjoyable, but she wondered if there was another reason Dustin would come get her in the middle of the night to take her ice skating.
@dustin
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last online May 3, 2024 13:31:23 GMT -7
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Jan 20, 2017 18:06:05 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2017 18:06:05 GMT -7
Dustin nodded when Evelyn said that he had learned to skate when he was a kid. “On this very pond, in fact.” It was one of the things that his dad had taught them about, since it was more Muggle than magical. It had been a fun way to get all of the kids out of the house, even if Dustin’s dad sometimes regretted that he had to play nanny to seven children who were always in various stages of falling. Evelyn asked why he liked skating so much, and the Gryffindor shrugged. “You know me. I like moving in…different ways.” Walking was not Dustin’s favorite way to get around. “And skating feels kind of like flying, if you go fast enough.” If Dustin was alone on the pond, he probably would have just skated in endless circles with his eyes closed, pretending to fly. Or maybe he’d be out actually flying, since he had the means to do that and it was much, much more interesting (and less pathetic) to do that.
@evelyn
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last online May 3, 2024 13:31:23 GMT -7
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Jan 21, 2017 12:39:39 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2017 12:39:39 GMT -7
It was nice that Dustin brought her out here. She had no idea he'd learned to skate here, but it seemed fitting to her that he learned here and now he was teaching someone here as well. So Dustin. She smiled, "Thanks for bringing me here." Really, she should have thanked him from the beginning, but she'd been caught up in trying to learn so she hadn't. She laughed when Dustin explained why he liked skating. "Well I'll have to take your word for it. I don't know if I'll ever go fast enough to make it feel like I'm flying," though that sounded really cool. Ev wanted to feel like she was flying when she was really just gliding. Maybe she would have to practice some more. "Did you do this a lot growing up?" She couldn't help but ask. It seemed like he spent a fair amount of time on the ice, but Ev was curious. Her eyes widened. "Wait, do you know any tricks?" Of course, she couldn't do any tricks, but if Dustin could, she was definitely ready to watch.
@dustin
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last online May 3, 2024 13:31:23 GMT -7
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Jan 23, 2017 15:33:49 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2017 15:33:49 GMT -7
Dustin smiled when Evelyn thanked him for bringing her to the pond with me. “It’s no problem, Ev. I like to spend time with you.” He shrugged his shoulders, attempting nonchalance, even though he was touched that she had even thought to thank him. She said that she’d have to take his word for it about the flying part, and Dustin smiled bigger. “Maybe in January we can do more together. Skating, I mean.” He wasn’t sure if he’d have enough time left in December, with his plans with Viovinnia and all. Evelyn asked if he could do any tricks, and Dustin thought for a moment. “I can do, like, one spin. But I’m not a figure skater by any stretch of the imagination.” Dustin said with a snort. “If anything, I’d say I’m more of a speed skater.” That was a thing, he was pretty sure – speed ice skating. And he was good at it because he didn’t get scared when going fast, because he did it when he was trying to ‘fly’. “I would teach you how to spin, but you’d kind of need to know how to stop first.” He said with another snort.
@evelyn
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last online May 3, 2024 13:31:23 GMT -7
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Jan 23, 2017 15:53:22 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2017 15:53:22 GMT -7
"I still appreciate it. No one's ever offered to teach me how to ice skate before." Obviously, or she would know what she was doing. Probably. Well, maybe. Evelyn wasn't really confident enough about herself to feel comfortable letting someone she didn't know teach her. She let Dustin because he was like a brother to her, her best friend, the one person she knew she could trust with anything and everything, which made the fact that she hadn't told him about Rocco increasingly strange to Ev, but she hadn't. She was worried that he would get annoyed at her for dating the competition. She didn't know how anyone would respond to that. She smiled when he offered to give her another chance to skate with him. "I would love that!" she excalimed confidently, "But I will probably practice before then. Maybe I won't feel so self-conscious then." She laughed when Dustin explained his skating abilities. "I don't need to learn how to spin yet. Skating without falling is good enough to start with. Besides, I would like to learn to go fast before I learn how to spin." Yeah, speed was more her thing, but spins would probably be cool, eventually. "How am I doing?" she asked softly, curiously. She was nervous that she was learning too slowly.
@dustin
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last online May 3, 2024 13:31:23 GMT -7
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Jan 24, 2017 20:31:29 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2017 20:31:29 GMT -7
“Like I said, if I had known that you didn’t know how, I would have offered earlier.” Dustin said with a shrug. “I dunno. It’s one of those things that you never really think to ask someone about until you’re already doing it.” And if Dustin was honest, he had offered to teach Evelyn to ice skate just as much out of his own selfish interests as his desire to actually teach her. But Dustin wouldn’t have changed this experience for anything. It was nice to spend time with Ev, beyond just sitting there and making half-hearted suggestions about what else they could do together. Then again, that hardly ever happened. He and Evelyn were always getting into trouble together, and Dustin liked that.
Dustin furrowed his brow when Evelyn said that she would practice more. “Are you gonna practice alone?” He asked, worried. Even if the pond was secure – yes, Dustin was going to insist that Evelyn use his pond for her practice sessions, if she went through with them – he still had that tiny bit of fear that the ice would crack and then, kaplooey, Evelyn would be gone in the freezing water. If it was about being self-conscious, then she wouldn’t go to a rink. Evelyn asked how she was doing, and Dustin tore himself away from the safety lecture that he was already planning in his head. “You’re doing great.” He told her. “I always knew you were a fast learner.”
@evelyn
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last online May 3, 2024 13:31:23 GMT -7
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Jan 24, 2017 21:52:14 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2017 21:52:14 GMT -7
She smiled when Dustin told her he would offer earlier if her knew. "I don't really make it a point to tell people all the things that I don't know how to do," Ev confessed. As a general rule, she kept those things to herself and tried to learn them on her own as best as possible. Ice skating hadn't been on the list though, so she was glad Dustin came up with it. "That makes sense."
Dustin asked if she was going to practice alone and Ev's eyebrows rose in surprise. Was that ... concern in his voice? Looking closer at him, she felt like she might be about to get told off or something. Then again, probably not. Dustin rarely got angry at him and she hadn't done anything wrong. "I don't know," she told him honestly. She might be able to convince Rocco to practice with her, but she hadn't really planned anything out. "I haven't really made plans to practice yet," she added, wondering how Dustin would respond to that. She beamed when he told her that she was doing well. It meant a lot that Dustin said that because Ev knew he didn't offer meaningless compliments.
@dustin
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