If i had you (vi)

[Deleted]

Feb. 14th, 2024

Valentine's Day. Was there really any better time to try and speak to his betrothed who stood him up the day after his birthday? River was sure that she didn't give a damn about the holiday, but he thought it would be nice to do something for her. To show that he came in peace. Sure he was upset, he was really upset. But he had a nice night with Liona because of her ditching him, and that was something to be happy about. Plus, he didn't have to spend the night with Vi telling him what to do or refusing to dance with him. Overall he probably had a better time without her that he would have with her. But the thought still counted. She had ditched him, and that was embarrassing. That was the opposite of what they were supposed to be doing.

So, he had fetched some chocolates from Hogsmeade Village, and was on the hunt for his lady. He finally saw her up ahead, by herself. That was strange, that she wasn't with her friends. In fact, she looked pretty down. He approached her, and held out the chocolates. "For you," he said. The first two words he had spoken to her since before Christmas break.

@vi

[Deleted]

Social interactions weren't really Viovinnia Nott's forte. In fact, unless they were a fellow Hexen, Vi didn't really talk to anyone. She preferred to keep to herself than make pointless small talk, which no doubt would usually end up in her insulting someone. That's just who Viovinnia Nott was. Until she met Dustin Bainbridge. Never in her life had Vi believed someone could have such a hold over her like Dustin did. He challenged her, he wasn't afraid of her, and despite her flaws and attitude he loved her. And she loved him, probably more than anyone. But he was a halfblood, and she couldn't be with a halfblood could she? Looking back, she wished she hadn't reacted the way she had. But she also wished she had known sooner. But it wasn't his fault! Except it was. But it wasn't. In her head, Viovinnia was in a constant battle with herself over what was right and what was wrong. So much so, she had started spending even more time alone and away from her friends. She wanted to get Dustin Bainbridge out of her head, but she just couldn't.

Viovinnia was out for her routine stroll, which had just accidentally become daily. She had found a sort of rhythm that allowed her to attend classes, do homework, eat, and still find time for a small walk. On Hogsmeade days, she was thankful she could draw that walk out a little longer. The Slytherin was walking down the street when she stopped in front of Quality Quidditch Supplies and stared inside the windows. Thoughts of Dustin came flooding into her mind and she found herself lost in thought until she heard someone beside her. The blonde took a small step back in surprise when she saw who was standing before her, holding out a box of chocolates. Viovinnia stared at the box for a moment, her mouth hanging open slightly still in shock. Her eyes then darted from the chocolates, to River, back to the chocolates until she finally looked at River with a confused look. "Why?" She asked, her usual tone of malice missing.

@river

[Deleted]

She just stared at the box for what seemed like a hundred years... before looking up at his face... then back at the chocolates... how long had they been standing there? And then back at him again. "Chocolate's good for you," he said in a matter-of-fact tone. "No matter what's going on in life... chocolates good. So take it," his voice was rather firm, firmer than he expected it to be in this moment. He also hadn't expected her to ask why, but he was doing pretty good at winging it. He also wasn't very good at social interactions and... well, Vi's brother had died, hadn't he? She had to be feeling something about that... plus,. she had to deal with him, with River, so that was enough to need some therapeutic chocolate.

"Plus," he quickly added, his voice getting away from him, "it's Valentines day." He wanted to add more to that but... he didn't.

@vi

[Deleted]

Viovinnia had always been the one in her relationship with River Flint to really take the reigns, so she was actually taken aback by the way River approached her today. When he told her to take the chocolates, she hesitated a moment longer and stared at him with a raised eyebrow. The look on her face almost yelled 'skeptical.' This had to be some kind of trick. Or at the very least, he had lost a bet. There was no way River Flint, the boy who had always been more of an underfoot character and the boy Viovinnia had been so unspeakably cruel to over the years, was giving her this by choice.

At the reminder that it was Valentine's Day, Viovinnia visibly winced a little. But she took the chocolates in her hands so that it hopefully went unnoticed. She stared at the box in her hands for a long moment before she looked at River. Vi had never pictured herself falling in love. But now that she had, she wished that someone who actually loved her was giving the chocolates to her, and not someone who had been forced into a relationship with her. Someone like Dustin. She met River's eyes finally. "Thank you," she said rather briskly. She didn't know what else to say. In fact, she could hardly even meet his eyes.

@river

[Deleted]

She took the chocolate, which was a nice sign. Or maybe she just wanted him to go away. She looked at the box and he took that chance to let his face contort into concern before relaxing it again as she looked up at him. Then she said... thank you. Thank you. He wasn't expecting that. Not in the least. He blinked hard, and took a few quick breaths (hopefully silent ones) before speaking again. He brought his hands to his sides, "it was no trouble. I just thought it'd be a nice thing to do," his voice sounded strangely harsh. Why? Maybe because he was caught off guard by her actually thanking him. He wasn't sure if she meant it, but the words were nice. "Well, I... I think we should spend more time together. I'd like to," his voice was firm now, confident. He was getting better at that. He was going to marry this girl, he may as well try to learn more about the things she enjoyed, who she was, what she did in her spare time. Maybe they could even become friends.

@vi

[Deleted]

Viovinnia continued to stare down at her chocolates, thankful for the distraction so she didn't have to look at River. Why did he do this? She didn't deserve this. If her breakup with Dustin had taught her anything, it was that she had been so rotten to so many people - some people, like River, being close to her an undeserving. It wasn't that she couldn't bring herself to feel bad, she thought she did but it was all so unfamiliar she had no idea what to make of it all. Vi just nodded at River's words, not noticing his quick breathing or his rather harsh tone. Vi was speechless, and still kind of in awe of the situation. When River said that he thought they should spend more time together, Vi's head finally snapped up to meet his eyes. Her eyebrows rose and she inclined her head toward him, a look of confusion and shock spreading across her features. "Wh-wha... why?" Was all she could say. Why would he want to spend more time with someone who had always been so awful to him?

@river

[Deleted]

She looked up at him when he spoke again, and he leaned back a little in mild panic. But then she asked why. Well, stammered out 'why', and he relaxed a little. He liked her being confused and flustered. It made her seem human. "Because. I plan to marry you and I thought we may as well get to know each other," he said, surprised at his confidence. This was what he wanted, what his father wanted, his mother maybe even wanted it. Long story short, he wanted to be with her, even if he didn't love her and she never loved him. This was just what he was always told he would do, at least for several years now, and he didn't want to change that plan. He liked plans staying in place.

@vi

[Deleted]

Before Dustin, Viovinnia had never really allowed herself to feel in front of people. Much less the boy she was always told she was to marry. But a lot had changed since her falling out with Dustin, one being that it was much easier to catch the Slytherin off guard and in her feelings now. River's words further surprised Vi and she still couldn't look at him. Instead she looked closer to where both their hands were. That seemed like a nice, neutral spot. "Y-you don't have to. Your family..." She stopped, not wanting to really bring up his parents. "Don't feel like you have to do this." She said quietly. Her parents hadn't really spoken to her about the marriage in quite some time herself, probably for the same reason.

@river