I'm Not Crazy, I'm Just A Little Unwell (Viola)

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Brandon was waiting on the deck of the ship for Viola to show up. He didn't know where they were, but he was waiting for his friend. After they questioned him around New Years about Callisto, he decided that if he ever did date someone, they would have to be one of the first people he told. He couldn't remember if he told them that or not, but if not they would be pleasantly surprised when he did tell them. The main problem would be finding Viola. He didn't know if they were still on the ship or if they went somewhere. If they were still here, then finding them shouldn't be too big of a deal, but if they left the ship he didn't know how he'd find them. So he walked from one side of the deck to the other, looking curiously around for them. Where was Viola?

@viola

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Viola didn’t like loitering, even around the ship. They felt strange standing around doing nothing, which in itself was strange, since normally they didn’t care about what other people were thinking of their actions. Self-consciousness was a new phenomenon, and one that didn’t sit well with them. It was easier to stick around the same place when they were in the middle of the crowd, and no one person saw them long enough to realize that they were standing still. There wasn’t much of a crowd on the ship (there never was, considering that few students had been brought to Hogwarts in the first place), so they had wandered through the castle for a while looking for one. Apparently no one felt in a particularly crowded mood, because the largest amount of people Viola found together was a group of four that was studying in the library. Slightly annoyed by the lack of subjects, they made their way back to the ship to prepare for dinner, where, surprisingly enough, someone was waiting abovedeck. “What’s up, Brandon?” They asked casually, still moving towards the entrance to the dormitory.

@brandon

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Brandon basically gave up on looking for Viola. They were nowhere to be found and while he was sure they'd come back to the ship eventually, he also had no idea when that would be. He was leaning up against the rails on the ship when he heard a familiar voice nearby and turned around. "Viola," he greeted, a warm smile on his face. "I've been looking for you. You remember right after the Yule Ball when I promised you I'd tell you if I start to like someone? I... I think I do." Wow Brandon. Confident way to tell a friend that you've started to develop feelings for someone. He cringed slightly and then waited for Viola to ask their questions.

@viola

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Brandon said they’d been looking for them, and Viola raised an eyebrow. “Obviously not looking very hard.” They hadn’t been making an effort to hide from anyone. They hadn’t been making an effort to do anything, really, other than find some interesting subjects to study, but that hadn’t turned out well for them. Brandon didn’t seem to care about their slightly cloudy mood, though, because he just kept trucking. He called their memory back to their conversation after the Yule Ball, when they had asked about the girl he had danced with. Even if that had been a flop, Brandon had promised that if he ever liked someone else, he would tell Viola. “Is she like, a fairy princess or something? You’re not the type to like bad girls, I don’t think.” They said, stroking their chin pensively.

@brandon

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Brandon shrugged when Viola said he hadn't been looking very hard. "Or I looked in all the wrong places," he answered back with a smile. They seemed a little ... off. At least, different than normal just a little bit, but Brandon didn't really mind. He knew that if they wanted to talk about whatever was on their mind, they would and no amount of pushing from him could change their mind. "No, she's not a fairy princess. She's an old friend from when I came to Hogwarts. We were actually really close before I left. I ran into her a bit ago in a tea shop and ended up asking her out." He paused. He didn't want to annoy Viola by telling them more than they cared to know, but he also didn't know how much that was. "I'm going to ask her on another date the next time I see her," he told Viola with another shrug. He didn't really know what else he should say or do.

@viola

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Viola glared a little at Brandon when he suggested that maybe he hadn’t found them because he’d been looking in the wrong places. If he had been, then he obviously didn’t know them very well at all, and that didn’t help Viola’s grouchiness. Despite that, they listened to what Brandon had to say about this girl that he liked. Something about being an old friend. Viola wrinkled their nose. Friends were difficult and falling in love with them sounded messy. Then again, they couldn’t talk much, since they had started dating Maria, who was about the closest Viola had come to a friend until they had started chatting with Brandon. “Does this girl who gets a second date have a name?” They prompted. Viola was going to be finding this girl, of course, and while it was possible to do that without Brandon’s assistance, a name would make it much easier to track her down and maybe shake a little sense into her about what would happen if she crossed Viola’s friend.

@brandon

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Viola was obviously not in a good mood. He was getting that, now that they were glaring at him. The thing was, he didn't know why they were upset, but he was getting the feeling that they weren't really in the mood to talk. Still, they asked a question about Brandon's confession. He smiled and gave a short laugh, "Yeah. Sorry, her name is Rosie. We were in the same house and year before I came to Durmstrang. I've known her since I started school." Which was a little nerve-wracking because he didn't want to ruin their friendship, but at the same time the feelings he had for Rosie just felt natural. "Any other questions?" he asked, a little nervously. 

@viola

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Viola rolled their eyes at Brandon’s laughter. How did he find it funny that he had forgotten a detail as simple as the girl’s name? He went on to say much more than they had asked for, about how they had met at Hogwarts, blah blah blah. Viola had known their girlfriend since they started school, but that didn’t mean that they were going around saying that like it was something important. Honestly, they weren’t sure why that was important to Brandon, but if they asked, he’d probably give them a weird look like it was one of those things they were supposed to be able to glean from observing. “Got a picture of her?” Viola asked, crossing their arms across their chest. If they were going to pay Rosie a visit, like they intended, it would be a lot easier to find her with a picture. If not, then Viola would still find her - it just would take them a little longer, and make them a lot grumpier. It was better for all involved parties if Viola was just given a picture.

@brandon

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Honestly, Brandon was surprised by how upset Viola seemed. They rolled their eyes, but it wasn't playful or teasing. It seemed annoyed, just like everything else about them. Maybe he found them at a wrong time or something, or after something happened that made Viola upset. He nodded when they asked about a picture. "I do, but not on me. I can show you one from my dorm if you want," he said, "or I can introduce you two." Brandon wasn't sure if Viola would want that, but he offered anyway. "Are you alright? You seem a bit tense?" he asked, his tone concerned. He hoped things were good with his friend, but with the way Viola was acting, he couldn't be sure. 

@viola

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Brandon said that he had a photo of Rosie, but not on him. What kind of doting sort-of boyfriend was he? Viola didn’t have a picture of their girlfriend on them, but that was because they were not a typical partner. Brandon ought to hold himself to higher standards than Viola. He also offered to introduce them to Rosie, and Viola shook their head. They didn’t do well with formal introduction. “I’m fine.” They said, brushing off his concern. “Just in a bit of a funk.” Viola shook their head. They weren’t supposed to get into funks. “I’ve got homework to do still. I’ll talk to you later, Brandon.” Viola said. It was a lame excuse, even if it was a little bit true. Viola just needed some time alone, to do their homework and study this Rosie girl and to pull themself out of their irritation. They retreated below the deck, hoping that Brandon wouldn’t follow.

@brandon
(le end)