You could convince me to tie my hair back (royal)

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A carnival was basically the perfect place for Adonia. It was almost as if they had designed the event specifically for her. Whoever invented carnivals must have had her in mind! Or another fabulous woman like herself. She loved the colors, the noise, the smells, and the slew of people looking for fun. That's why they were there, right? Which is exactly what Adonia wanted for people! People needed more fun and it was amazing to see them activitely seeking it out as she did.

She came to the carnival alone, not with a date or anything, but she did not intend to leave that way. She was determined to find plenty of people to hang out with, but only one (or maybe two) lucky souls would find they were with her at the end... If she could find an interesting place to take them.

That Shrieking Shack was always promising.

She got their with the first group at the front of the students, ready to party as much as possible. She squealed happily and ran down the street, looking around excitedly, trying to decide what on earth to do first! Her eyes caught a few others around her and she always gave a grin or a wink. Her eyes settled on a guy, older than her, with beautiful smooth looking skin and deep eyes- and she chose her first target.

She approached him, then right before reaching him she feigned a stumble, hopefully right into his arms... Otherwise she would have to catch herself on the cart beside him.

@royal

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Royal wasn’t sure why he was at the carnival. There were so many other things he could have been doing that were better uses of his time than just walking around and looking at a bunch of games he probably wasn’t going to play. But Royal had felt obligated to come to the carnival anyways. Something about Abby wanting him to have a good time or something equally cliché and slightly annoying. When he entered, he was given a handful of tokens with which to play games, which made him startle a little. He thought the whole point of these things was that you were supposed to pay far too much money to have far too little fun. Royal sighed. He liked life a lot better when he wasn’t such a cynic, but it was difficult to think the best of a world that had taken his father and his sister from him much too young. He was walking along, fiddling with the handful of tokens and trying to figure out if there was anything worth playing, when a flash of movement caused his head to turn. It was lucky that he had noticed the movement, because the next minute, there was a girl in his arms, having stumbled into them. Royal opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. The girl looked to be a little younger than his sisters, and he was now holding on to her for dear life so that she wouldn’t fall to the ground. Was there something to say that wouldn’t make this awkward?

@adonia

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Yes! The guy caught her and she gave a littlr gasp, looking up at him as he opened his mouth to speak. "Oh! I am so sorry!" she exclaimed sweetly, lifting a hand to place it on her chest over her heart, feigning surprise. "I'm lucky you were here... What's your name?" she asked. She didn't attempt to move away from him, and she stared into those eyes of his like they were a lifeline. They were quite lovely! There were few things she found more attractive then the eyes, the windows to the soul. And the soul was the best part of most people.

His eyes were sad, though, which made her feel even more sure that she had chosen the right person to start her day with. He needed loosening up, and she was the best person to do that! She would see how he responded, maybe hit him hard all day or give him space here and there -- either way she would figure out the best course of action for his individual needs. She was good at finding and filling peoples desires.

@royal

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Royal was saved from having to say anything, awkward or not, when the girl exclaimed that she was sorry. Despite that, she still wasn’t letting go of him and moving on with her day… instead she was asking him what his name was. She must have been a foreign student, Royal decided. His name and pictures had been in the paper enough as of late that anyone who lived in Britain and had half a brain would recognize him. “Royal Shacklebolt, Junior Assistant to the Minister of Magic, at your service.” Royal said, half-hoping that his overblown title might make her hesitate to continue to talk to him. It was one thing to be clinging to a stranger, but it was another thing to be clinging to a stranger who was also a powerful political figure. Then again, anyone who clung to someone in the first place probably didn’t care about that sort of thing. Royal cleared his throat nervously. “And who would you be?” She was staring at him now, and Royal was simultaneously tempted to dig around in her mind to figure out what the hell she was doing and to look away so that she wouldn’t be able to see how uncomfortable he was.

@adonia

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He explained who he was and she raised her right eyebrow high, cocking her head to the side just a little bit. Well, she supposed he looked a little familiar, but she didn't really pay attention to politics and news and things of the like. Not unless something particularly fascinating was going on. Her eyebrow and head returned to their relaxed positions but her lips curved into a smirk as he cleared his throat and asked who she was, "Adonia," she said in a soft tone, almost as if she was shy about saying her name. She squeezed his arm just a little where she was holding on, trying to make it seem like an involuntary motion. The guy, Royal, seemed to not be sure what to do with her... which was the best scenario for Adonia! That meant she could guide him and he wouldn't have any of his own ideas to counter-act. That was the hope, at least.

"Oh!" she exclaimed sweetly, before trying to shift to a standing position, "sorry about making you support me for so long. I was a bit... distracted," she admitted. That was true, actually. She was indeed distracted by the prospect of this new person. "Can I make it up to you? Perhaps a treat? A Ferris wheel ride?"

@royal

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The girl responded that her name was Adonia, and Royal just nodded. All of his political training had flown out of his head – he was supposed to compliment her, or her name, or something. Make her feel at ease. Somehow, Royal had the feeling that he wasn’t the one playing politician in this scenario. Adonia was acting perfectly sweet, and innocent, and just… normal. Royal couldn’t remember the last time he had met someone who was actually normal. Everyone he interacted with lately seemed to be hiding something, or feeling emotions too big for any one person to hold. The Ministry seemed to attract those sorts of people, though, so Royal couldn’t even act like he was surprised by that. He still hadn’t spoken when Adonia apologized for him having to support her for so long. “It’s fine.” He said awkwardly. In all honesty, Royal had half-forgotten he was holding her in the first place. “…I didn’t know they had a Ferris wheel here.” He said dumbly. If he had been paying attention, he probably would have seen it, but his focus was elsewhere at the moment. Royal hadn’t actually agreed to go on a ride with the girl, but he was slightly curious. But only slightly.

@adonia

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He simply nodded upon receiving her name and she just chuckled. He must have been broken! That was fine, though. Broken was easier to work with and usually much more fun. It meant there was nowhere to go but up, right? He said it was fine that she had him supporting her and she grinned, holding off on her comment for the moment. She would ease into it... but maybe a faster ease then with most people because this Royal person was yum and just plain lovely.

She giggled, "no? Well, I'd love to show you where it is, if you don't mind taking some guidance from a sweet, little Swedish girl," she semi-challenged. She raised both eyebrows and held a hand out to him, "I promise I'm smarter then I look!" she joked, laughing.

@royal

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The girl said that she’d love to show him where the Ferris wheel was, and Royal balked. “I think I can find it for myself, thanks.” Ferris wheels weren’t that difficult to spot, especially when one was actually looking for them. Royal had just been too distracted by finding the games that he wanted to play to get rid of his tokens to look anywhere other than the path in front of him. Now that he was aware, though, Royal could see the wheel, and he was certain that if he walked around enough, he would be able to find the entrance. The girl made a comment about being smarter than she looked, and Royal snorted. She looked about as dumb as a brick, so it wasn’t really difficult to be smarter than that. He wasn’t sure what her intelligence had to do with the conversation anyways. “Glad I could catch you, Miss Sweden.” Royal said before melting back into the crowd.

@adonia
(you can start the next meeting? idc if it's later or the next day)

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Well, didn't he seemed determined to go. Not necessarily in a rude way, she thought, but he did disappear and not accept her advances on taking a Ferris Wheel ride together. Maybe she should have just come out and said it... maybe being direct was better with this one.

He was said he was glad he could catch her and she just lifted her hand to her head to give a salute as he left, not even knowing if he bothered to notice. Well... That was fun. She had met someone important, and he seemed to be a nice enough fellow - at least from what she could tell with their encounter. However, he was also pretty independent, which would make it a little harder but even more fun to spend more time with him. But, for now, he was gone, so she moved on with her day.

The sun was just starting to hide when she saw him again. He very much could have gone home already, and perhaps he did and came back... either way, she was a little surprised to see him still there.

This time, instead of fabricating a trip into his arms, she just walked right up to him and waved, casually. "Hey, there Mr. Shacklebolt," she greeted, "ever take a spin on that ferris wheel?"

@royal

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Royal wasn’t expecting to see the girl again – not that day, or ever, really. The carnival was big enough and there were enough people attending that the chances he would see her weren’t very high. Yet here they were, with her standing in front of him and waving like they were old friends. “Call me Royal.” He corrected. “Mr. Shacklebolt was my father.” It was perhaps the most cliché thing that he could have said, but Royal was still trying to adjust to the fact that there were people who would never know any Mr. Shacklebolt other than him, and he’d rather put off that eventuality. “I never did go, no.” Royal said, in the interest of being honest (and not having to remember the lies that he’d told). “I’ve spent my day kicking, throwing, and smashing various things.” If anyone had told Royal that a carnival could be a good therapy session, he would have laughed in their faces, but there was something cathartic about being able to take out his anger on faux Death Eaters and unsuspecting targets. “Did you?” He asked. Royal didn’t think this girl was going to let him away as easily the second time, so having a conversation that wasn’t entirely boring was the next-best thing to disappearing.

@adonia

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"Royal," she repeated. Well, if that's what he preferred it was all the same to her. She didn't laugh, even though she wanted to, when he said that 'Mr. Shacklebolt was his father'. The was made her rather sure that she shouldn't be laughing on the subject. It was just a cliche line, which was funny. He said he never went on the Ferris Wheel and she just nodded understandingly. She hadn't gone on it yet, either. Awe, so he sounded like he had just been playing games. He seemed a little less... tense than earlier, which made her happy. She preferred people to be enjoying themselves! "Oh, I did! I rode it with one of my fellow students from Durmstrang," she said with a shrug. "Which games did you play? I'm assuming that's what you meant by 'kicking, throwing and smashing various things,' she chuckled, "otherwise I would be a little concerned for your safety. Or maybe mine."

@royal

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Royal nodded when Adonia said that she had ridden on the Ferris wheel with one of the other Durmstrang student. There went his momentary, stupid plan to invite her to go on it with him. If neither of them had gone, then it would have been perfect. But if he asked her now, he’d seem… what? Pathetic, or desperate, maybe? Either way, Royal’s courage did not extend to asking random school girls to go on rides with him. Then the girl asked what games he played, Royal chuckled a little. He had forgotten to specify that he had been playing games when doing his myriad of violent activities, hadn’t he? “I punted some gnomes and stunned some Death Eaters with bean bags.” He told her, even though his actual list of games was much more extensive than just those two. “My dad fought Death Eaters when he was younger, so it felt rather fitting.” Royal said, surprising himself by sharing that tidbit. Now that Abby was gone, it was slightly easier to talk about his father now, because he wasn’t the most recent loss.

@adonia

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She nodded as he explained which games he played, thought she was sure there was more than that. At least SHE had palyed more than that! He said that his dad fought Death Eaters, so it seemed fitting and she grinned. "Well, I'm sure he was very good at it. I think I've heard the name before," she chuckled. Then she realized, and she slapped her forehead with her palm. "SHACKLEBOLT! Your father was the Minister of Magic! Oh," she paused, realizing that meant his father had died only what... two years ago? She furrowed her brow. She hadn't really dealt with loss, but she wasn't sure that she would take it very well... well, other than her mum leaving, which she let go of pretty young. At least, she felt she let go of it.

@royal

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Royal had been dreading this moment. He had kind of been hoping that since the girl hadn’t recognized his name the first time he had said it, she wasn’t going to draw the obvious connection, but it seemed his hope was ill-placed. She shouted out that his father was the Minister of Magic, and Royal nodded slowly, trying to slip on the mask that he sometimes used when other people at the Ministry were annoying him. It was difficult, just because the subject was so close to him. “Yes, he was.” Royal nodded, since there was no point in denying the facts. “I’m hoping to follow in his footsteps one day.” He added, justifying his title as the Junior Assistant to the Minister. He doubted that day would come anytime soon, but Royal couldn’t imagine that getting a head start on politics and the inner workings of the Minister’s office would be bad for him. “Before you ask, yes, my sister’s dead, too.” Royal added, in case Adonia did any more digging in her head and came up with the headline proclaiming that Abigail had died.

@adonia

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Alright so the guy wanted to be Minister, like his father. And his sister died too... oh wait. She may have heard something about that... okay, she was starting to remember vague whisperings here and there with the name 'Shakelbolt'. "Well," she said with a short nod, "I'm sure you get people offering condolences a lot, so I won't bother you with it," she said. If he wanted them, she would offer, but for now she saw someone who desperately needed to have a good time. She reached out to take his hand, hopefully not too quick to startle him but fast enough to catch it. "Come on, Royal. Let's get to know each other," her smile had returned and it was genuine. She leaned back slightly, raising both eyebrows at him in a sort of pleading way. "Please?" she added softly.

@royal