Protect those who can't protect themselves [Riley]

[Deleted]

Diana was still reeling form her conversation with Kinsey a few days ago. She felt awful, sick to her stomach about what she had to say. What she needed to say to get Kinsey to stop asking questions. To keep her distance from Diana. But at a cost. Diana knew Kinsey would never trust her the same. Kinsey, sweet Kinsey, who struggled with knowing when to trust others and when not to. Diana's words would have completely blind sided her.

But sometimes, you had to do the wrong thing when it was for the right reason.

SO, she kept herself busy. It wasn't hard. Diana was easily lost in her work. She spent those days pouring over ancient tomes from the library, meticulously studying the symbols and dead languages inside. Ancient Runes had always been one of her best subjects, so getting her hands on the complex and sometimes dangerous (in the wrong hands) only required a permission slip. Convincing Professor Kamuntu used to be difficult, but that was before Diana had learned if she laid out her plans and reason's the teacher was much more reasonable. That, and she happened to be in good standings with the teacher in question. With exams coming up Diana was working on an unusually difficult final project. Something that would truly impress the Bank and potentially land her a spot in the Curse Breaking program if she decided to go that route. It was almost normal now a days to see seventh years running around with books from the restricted section, studying and working away in preparation of their NEWTS. Today in particular Diana had taken her studying to the Greenhouses. It was quieter, so she was less likely to be disturbed when class wasn't in session. Sitting on the grass just outside Greenhouse three, she leaned against the wooden exterior wall and flipped through the book aimlessly, stopping every once in a while to read a particular passage more carefully. Otherwise though, she seemed quite relaxed... Until she heard footsteps. Her gaze lifted from the yellowing pages of the aging tome and sought the owner of those footstep...

@riley

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Ever the observer, Riley was a huge fan of people watching. He liked to explore the grounds looking for interesting people to watch or interact with. On this particular day, he didn't have anywhere specific in mind for a destination. He wasn't quite sure where Kinsey had gone, and he hoped that wherever she was, she was alright, after the week she had he didn't want to see her cry or upset again. Perhaps he'd head to the pond to see if she was over there. Riley walked across the lawns towards the pond near the lake, passing by the greenhouses on his way.

The lawns were full of students enjoying the pleasant April weather and he loved seeing so many people out and about. He was beginning to wonder if maybe Kinsey stayed inside because of all of the people running around outside. Because they would be too much for her. Their relationship had come so far in such a short time, and being as observant as he was, figuring out the mysterious skill that she insisted she couldn't tell him hadn't taken him that long. he felt better for knowing the truth. And he honestly felt closer to her knowing it. They were so alike he wondered how he had gone the past 6 years without having known her. A body came into view when he approached the greenhouses and he recognized the face as Diana Bainbridge, the sister whom had upset Kinsey most recently. She looked up at him as his foot steps grew closer and he tried to convince himself to just keep walking, but he couldn't. He stopped for a second, just past her and took a deep breath before he turned back around. "You know... you really hurt her the other day." he said, knowing she had to know what he was talking about. He wasn't sure what he wanted her to say, he wasn't sure how the conversation was going to go, but he had confronted Cara last week, and spent all week with Kinsey, he began to wonder if he was being drawn to the family.

@diana

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Riley Fudge. Diana recognized him. Not just as a fellow Ravenclaw a year younger but also as the boy who Kinsey had mentioned spending quite a bit of time with. The boy Kinsey thought she knew better then Diana. It was true. Diana kept many secrets now. But she kept them to keep Kinsey, and the rest of their siblings safe. This boy? Well... She didn't know what to think of him yet. If he was just some love sick teenager who thought Kinsey was cute, or if he actually cared. Better yet, she didn't even know if he'd be capable of keeping her sister safe. Regardless, her expression stayed surprisingly neutral upon first seeing him, before dropping back to her book. The last thing she needed was to open another can of worms. Anything she said to him would get back to Kinsey most likely.

She'd skimmed another paragraph when he stopped and turned back to face her, speaking. Telling, or more like reminding, Diana that she hurt her sister. Diana went unusually still, her mind vividly and rapidly replaying what she'd done and said, before her currently brown eyes raised once more and stared quite intensely at Riley. She didn't move to stand. Didn't close the book. In fact, the only thing that had moved was her eyes. "You don't think I know that?" She asked, her usually coarse and husky voice soft and quiet, just above a whisper but loud enough that her words would be heard.

@riley

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Riley was caught off guard by the simplistic way the girl responded to him. She wasn't offended that he was confronting her about hurting the most important person in his life, she wasn't defending herself either. She knew that she hurt Kinsey, and she seemed maybe remorseful? He racked his brain to think of why? Had he been right with his previous theory that she was being bullied also and thus couldn't help Kinsey? He didn't like assumptions, he liked facts. She was giving him plenty to read. She obviously cared for Kinsey even a little or she would have scoffed and ignored him rather than respond. "Do you care?" he asked, trying to figure her out. Trying to make sense of the whole thing. "If you know what she's going through already why would you want to hurt her any more? Because she can read intentions? Yeah, I know. I know all about the situation." he said. "What does that matter? It's not like she asked to have that ability." unlike him, who had literally been spending 9 years teaching himself to do something that she was gifted. He felt a little bad for going off on this girl, she didn't ask him to come and yell at her, and he hadn't expected to start yelling at her, but he was frustrated. He was mad. She knew Kinsey was being bullied and she knew who the bully was, (not that he was going to let slip that he didn't know who it was, maybe this was how he would find out) but she wasn't going to do anything. What did this person have over this family?

@diana

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Kinsey had told him.

For a moment, Diana's eyes flashed red. Literally. Those rich brown eyes turned red, but faded back to brown after a moment. Kinsey shouldn't be telling some boy about her ability. especially one she'd only known closely a short time! But, Diana knew she couldn't stay mad. It was Kinsey's secret, she had the right to tell who she wanted. Just like Diana had the right to not tell her own secrets. But asking if she cared? Of course she cared! Kinsey was the one who refused to stay away. Sometimes you had to hurt the people you cared about to keep them safe.

Diana closed her book, not speaking yet, as she set the book on the ground beside her and rested her elbows on her knees. Her eyes and hair had gone dull as she mulled silently over his words. Demanding to know if she cared, about why she would want to hurt Kinsey, about Kinsey not asking to have the ability. "You wouldn't understand why I said what I did." She finally and slowly answered, choosing her words carefully. "Because if you did, you'd know that Kinsey is always going to get hurt. And sometimes you have to pick the lesser of two pains." Diana's sisterly distance would be nothing compared to the ultimate betrayal that Kinsey would feel if she kept trying to get close.

@riley

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Riley saw her eyes change and made the mental note that she had something special also, he wondered if everyone in her family had something like that, some special skill. As far as he knew, Cara didn't have anything like that and was perfectly content just being selfish and keeping herself hidden behind her mask. However, 2 in the same family was an interesting enough statistic. "Don't be mad at Kinsey, she didn't tell me. She didn't have to. After 9 years of studying Psychology seriously I've become very good at what I do." he rolled his eyes, not at her, but at everyone who had recently been under estimating his self-taught skills of observation, and it was primarily members of the Bainbridge clan. Diana went on to explain that he wouldn't understand and that Kinsey was always going to her hurt. He began to think that maybe she was the one who didn't understand. She was so afraid of hurting her sister, Riley didn't have that fear even a little bit, he was confident that he wouldn't hurt her. "Maybe you just think that way because you're afraid of letting her see your true intentions." he said, aware of his bluntness. "Have you considered just not keeping things from her? Hasn't she been through enough? Does she need to loose her sister too? One of the only people who had stood with her?" he asked, leading onto the fact that Kinsey had filled him in on the two girls previous relationship. "Look." he sighed. "I'm not trying to make you feel bad, I can see that you do... I just... Kinsey is such a special girl. I just can't see why anyone would want to hurt her...at all, even the lesser of the two, whatever that means to you." he sighed, lightening his tone from his growing anger that he was previously expressing so genuine concern, not just for Kinsey, but for Diana as well.

@diana

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Riley seemed to have a pretty good grasp on what she was feeling without her expressing it verbally. But to be fair red eyes wasn't exactly meant to be a happy emotion so anger wasn't that hard of a leap. "What you do? You're still a boy." Diana answered. It was almost ironic that she used the word, considering her twin sister had called him a boy as well. They truly were twins.

Diana's eyes narrowed as he kept reading into it. Diana pushed herself to her feet, crossing the short distance between them and standing right in front of him. She willed her eyes to turn dark, as if void. "My true intentions are, and always will be the same." she answered truthfully. "But you? You're just a boy who came into her life when she was vulnerable and found your way into a position of importance to her without any of the real hard work. You've only known her a short time. But I've been there through everything." she paused, letting her words sink in as she took another step closer and lowered her voice. "I know how special my sister is far better than you could ever imagine." she took a step back, turning away and return to her spot against the greenhouse. "When you're stuck between choices that will all hurt... there's no answer where she comes out unscathed."

@riley

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He was both shocked and impressed when she actually stood up to come and make her point to his face. It showed that she really did care about what she was saying, and it was obvious, at least to him, that she really did care about Kinsey. She was hiding something too. But he didn't want to make another Bainbridge an enemy, so he decided not to press it, at least not right now. He needed them to like him, at least the ones that Kinsey cared about, he needed them to understand. She made her first comment, very similar to the comment her twin had made, and he just rolled his eyes. He didn't need her to think he was intelligent, he didn't really care what she thought about him in that way, he wasn't trying to impress her to show her his abilities, he just wanted to understand why she would have made Kinsey so upset.

"I know." he agreed. "Okay? I know that you've been there the whole time and I've only known her for such a short while. But if Kinsey can read people true intentions then don't you think she'd be a good judge of character? I'm not here to hurt her. I'm not trying to take advantage of her or... or anything like that. I'm a good person and I really am just trying to protect her. Just like you, even if in a different way." he said. he almost asked what the other situation she was stuck in was, but he knew it was something she wouldn't tell him, something that would likely set her off again. it was something for him to figure out on his own, if he took the interest.

@diana

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That really was the problem, wasn't it? Intentions didn't say whether you were a good or bad purpose. It made Kinsey aware in the moment, but it didn't give her any sort of understanding as to why someone would do something. It didn't give reasons, or explanations. "Intentions don't decide a person's character." She answered slowly. Diana personally didn't believe anyone, or anything, was good or bad by nature. That was probably why she didn't have any problem with Dominic, even after finding out he bullied her sister. No one was entirely bad.

Sitting back down on the ground, she leaned against the exterior wall of the greenhouse once more a sighed. "Kinsey's ability only lets her know the person's immediate intention. She can't see why they are doing it, or what it actually is they are going to do. Do you really think having that sort of ability is healthy for her? Even if you decide against the intention, you still felt it, and she felt it too." Diana shook her head. Even if your intention was to protect Kinsey, if it was by a darker route, all she'd feel was that. "That's the difference between you and me, Fudge. You're still trying. I am protecting my sister. You, and no one else, has a right to question my methods if they work." And if she had her way, no one would ever know what exactly Kinsey was being protected from.

@riley

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Riley sighed, feeling seconds away from giving up. This family was too complicate and he hadn't even met half of them yet. "Fine." he gave in, throwing his hands up a little, but not over-dramatically so. "You can think whatever you want of me." he shrugged. "I don't need to convince you or any of your siblings to like me, or that I'm a good person and a good friend to Kinsey. She's the one I have to convince and I've done that already without even trying." it was true, their whole relationship had sprung out of nowhere, but after he had decided to stay by her side as much as he could, she had grown to trust him and she had turned into the best friend he had ever had. "I would give anything to keep her safe and she knows that, and that's what's important." it was true, he was willing to physically defend her if it came to it, not that he honestly thought he would do well in a fight, but he was rather skilled at magic at least if the situation ever called for it, even if Kinsey continued to distract him during defense against the dark arts class. "If her happiness counts as anything at all to you, then maybe you wouldn't be pushing me away quite so hard. But I'm going to be there for her, I'll play body-guard if I have to." he sighed. "If you're really trying to protect her it'd be great it we could at least be on the same page. A united front is better than individuals." not that he was expecting her to agree with him, not out loud anyway, even though he knew he was right. However, he had a feeling that she was speaking about something bigger than Kinsey's bully. And while he wouldn't voice his concerns, he kept them at the front of his mind.

@diana

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"You misunderstand me, Fudge." Diana bluntly stated, her eyes dark with mild frustration. "My sister is going to get herself into trouble some day. And she needs people to protect her from the consequences of her actions." She'd picked her book back up at that point and began flipping through it once more. "You can not protect her the way I can, but she needs someone by her side. That can't be me anymore. You're the first person to come along that's capable of doing that." she stopped speaking for a moment, her gaze distance as she thought deeply. She wished she could be there. The way he was. But she couldn't. And she didn't see that changing. She'd be forever stuck in the shadows. Watching and praying and could keep family safe.

"If her happiness matters to you, than you should keep Kinsey far away from me. If you want to be on the same page, do. that and only that. Because I am going to keep her safe the best way how and I don't need her questioning my methods or getting involved where she shouldn't." she paused momentarily to let her words sink in. "Do you understand that, Fudge? That is the only way you can work with me. And if you can't do that, than you are working against me. And I'm willing to destroy my relationship with my sister for her sake, you don't want to know what I'll do to people who get in my way."

@riley

[Deleted]

Diana continued to explain that one day Kinsey was going to get herself into trouble and for once, he didn't need clarification or further explanation, he knew exactly what she meant. He felt a little bad for agreeing with her, and her gave her a nod of understanding. Perhaps it was true, even though he didn't know exactly what Diana was protecting Kinsey from, he wasn't dumb. He wasn't naive, he could easily put two-and-two together and assume that the situation probably had something to do with the attacks or killings and the woman behind them. He wasn't sure enough yet to assume that Diana was one of them but he did make a note to bring up her name around his brother and see if that solicited any sort of reaction. It was also unconfirmed that his brother was a part of it, but Riley was nearly 100% sure that he was. And he wasn't sure how he felt about that. "Fine." he gave in.

He didn't feel as though he had lost any sort of battle, he wasn't here to fight with Diana, he just needed to gather more information if he wanted to protect Kinsey, and over the course of their conversation, he was confident he had at least a slightly better grasp on the situation. "I'll keep her away." he said, he wasn't sure how much he could actually do that, Kinsey was her own person and she was a strong and independent person, but Riley would do his best. He believed that Diana was being sincere. By the way she spoke, he could tell that she thought he was scared or afraid of her or what she could do to him, and maybe he should have been afraid, but he wasn't, and it upset him a little that everyone kept thinking that he should be. He had gotten to Cara, he had figured her out, while he doubted that she had told anyone about their encounter, wasn't he proving that he was more than he let out? That he had more skill than was obvious? The conversation seemed to be drawing to a close and he was ready to be away from her. He would have been happy if he never had to interact with either of the Bainbridge twins again, however with Kinsey as such a big part of his life he wasn't sure he'd get his wish. He knew he hadn't given her a lot in reply, but he didn't feel like words were necessary, there was a clear goal and it had been met. 

@diana
((You can end it in your post!))

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Riley agreed. That was all she needed to hear. That he'd be on her side.... At least in the sense that he'd keep Kinsey away. If he could do that, then everything would be fine. She wouldn't have to worry aout Kinsey getting to close. Finding out things she shouldn't. Getting into trouble. Riley would keep her away from all of it. And everything would be fine. "Good." Was all she said. All she needed to say. Because he understood the importance. What else needed to be added at that point?

So, snapping her book shut, she stuffed the book into her bag and got back to her feet. "Don't fail." Diana added as a final thought before rising to her feet once more and leaving. This conversation didn't need to continue. And as long as Riley didn't screw things up, they wouldn't need to hae another conversation.

@riley
(end! :3)