if i never fell, i guess i wouldn't need grace [nora]

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There was something horrible inconvenient about having to visit the blood bank every night. She never forgot, because the thirst felt like it would tear her apart if she didn't give in, and there was no way in hell anyone could convince her to bite a living person. Still, being forced to go out, even when she didn't feel like being around other people, was annoying. She was told that after she had built a reputation for coming to the blood bank regularly she would be allowed to take home about three day's worth of blood at a time - no more because the blood couldn't keep any longer, even with the technology wizards had available to them. It didn't matter to Cecelia - she still had quite a bit to go before she would be trusted with extra blood rations. The blood bank still insisted on supervising her while she was feeding (she hated that word!), in case it sent her on some sort of blood rage. Obviously the people at the blood bank didn't know Cecelia at all, because when she wanted to, she had a will of iron, and she didn't want her condition to end up hurting people. Some would argue that Cecelia had already hurt people - Grey, her sister, Zander - by becoming a vampire in the first place, but they were all strong. They could take emotional bumps and bruises.

Cecelia was once again at the blood bank, waiting in an uncomfortable armchair for her turn. At least she didn't have any paperwork to do this time, Cece thought with a small smile. She had grown a disliking for paperwork lately, with everything that was being asked of her now that she was a vampire. She would much rather spend her time doing things, not waiting, but some things couldn't be helped.

@nora

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Nora was at the blood bank grabbing some for herself. Her mother preferred that they do this stuff on their own so they could be responsible about it and all. Nora didn't mind, she was pretty independent anyway. Plus, this was a good way to meet other vampires, half or whatever. She could always tell, of course, whether they were full blooded or not. She was so jealous of them. What a life they must live.

She entered the blood bank and was told to have a seat, sitting next to a girl who didn't look too much older than her. Nora looked over at her and grinned. The girl was a full vampire, she was sure. "Hey! I'm Nora," she greeted with a nod, "first time at this blood bank," her Canadian accent was obvious and strong, with a tiny hint of a french twist since her and her brother were raised speaking it, "is it pretty easy to use?"

@cecelia

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Were all vampires this friendly? This was the second time Cecelia had been approached while waiting at the blood bank, and she had an odd sense of déjà vu when the girl came up to her and introduced herself. It was like she had been in that situation before, even though the only other vampire Cece had met was a male, so the girl definitely wasn’t the same. “Cecelia.” The Gryffindor responded, hoping her confusion at being approached didn’t show through in her tone of voice. The girl – Nora – spoke again, and it was enough words in a row that Cecelia recognized the accent as distinctly not-British. It made her suddenly aware of her own foreign accent, and when she spoke, Cecelia was certain the lilt of the French accent was more pronounced than it had been since she had spoken to her sister last. “Easy to use, but a long wait time.” Cecelia answered. “You moved recently?” Cecelia asked curiously, deciding the accent and the announcement this was Nora’s first time at the blood bank was enough to make the logical leap.

@nora

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Cecelia, she said. She spoke about how it was an easy bank to use but a long wait time, and Nora's eyes widened with excitement as she heard the girls French accent coming through. She almost didn't even hear the last question. "Oui! At the end of May," she spoke quickly and excitedly. "Do you speak French?" she asked, in French. If the girl didn't then she would just brush it aside, no harm done, but if she did then this would be an even more exciting trip to the blood blank than she was originally anticipating. She had met a few French speakers in England so far, but none that were vampires or even part vampires!

@cecelia
(purple is french haha)

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Cecelia hadn’t expected something as simple as another person speaking French to brighten her day, but she had to admit that it was nice to hear someone speak in her mother tongue. Even though she was comfortable speaking English, French was a reminder of a simpler time – before she was caught up in the mess of the Purifiers and dead sisters and being a vampire. She smiled, and Cecelia wondered if it was the first time she had smiled, really smiled, at anyone but Grey since she had been turned. “I do. I grew up in France.” Cecelia replied. “Your accent… not from France?” She guessed. Cecelia could still understand the other girl, but the dialect was slightly different from what Cecelia had grown up hearing, and she was curious to hear Nora’s story.

@nora

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Cecelia smiled and Nora couldn't help but grin, glad that she spoke the language. She seemed happy to have someone to communicate in French with, too, just like Nora was. It was different, of course, coming from such different areas, but it was still nice. "Canada, Quebec," she explained. "What part of France did you grow up in? I still haven't been able to visit," she frowned a little. Maybe, if they became friends, this girl could show her around! That would be so, so much fun to have someone to explore with -- other than Steve. "We grew up in a small magical town, didn't leave much until we came here. I'm excited to see Europe. Are you... going to Hogwarts this fall or...?" she wasn't sure how old Cecelia was.

@cecelia

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Nora answered that her accent was from Canada, and Cecelia nodded. It made sense that she would be from Quebec, which was more fiercely French than the rest of the country. When asked what area in France she grew up in, Cecelia smiled. “Our parents weren’t fans of using the Muggle names for cities, so I’m not sure I can recall.” She admitted sadly. Her parents were purist to their bones, even in stating the names of places, which was silly, in Cece’s mind. If she were to visit again, Cece would be able to recognize the streets of her home, but it was… different. Nora explained that she grew up in a small magical town, and didn’t leave until she came to Britain, and Cecelia nodded. It must have been nice, to have so much of the world left to see and no qualms in going to see it. “I graduated from Hogwarts in May.” Cece answered. “I don’t believe they let full vampires attend, anyways. Something about a lack of control.” Cecelia wasn’t going to go on and on about how she was better at controlling her urges than most – it was a moot point she was already going to school. “But… I still know some people there, if you want any introductions.” Cecelia offered. She knew some kids from the GSA, a handful from Phoenix Rising, and of course the Gryffindors in the year below her, even if she didn’t really know any of them well.

@nora

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The way they spoke French was different, but they were still doing okay at communicating, which was nice. She said her parents weren't fans of the muggle names for cities and Nora laughed, "sounds like a lovely couple," she said, not realizing that this could be taken as insensitive. Nora didn't think through what she had to say sometimes. Cecelia said that she graduated in May from Hogwarts, saying she didn't think they let full vampires attend due to control issues. That made Nora smirk. She wasn't a full vampire, but she'd always wanted to be. She still wasn't even sure if she could become one... "Well, that's a shame. Wizards turned vamps are probably missing out," she said, pursing her lips to the side. She said she knew some people there if Nora wanted introductions and Nora grinned, "I actually got invited to some party a the beach -- I'll have to stay inside the whole time or hide under a lot of clothes and a hat, but I think I'll make some friends there. Are you happy to be graduated? Can I ask, if you don't mind, what are you doing now?"

@cecelia

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Cecelia let out a snort when Nora said that her parents sounded like a lovely couple. That was one way to put it. “They don’t know I’m a vampire.” She informed the younger girl. She wasn’t sure how she was going to get around to informing them, especially since her parents were back in France and Cece had no intentions of visiting anytime soon. She doubted she could be disinherited, since her sisters were dead or presumed so, but Cecelia was still going to avoid mentioning her vampirism until it was inevitable. Nora said that wizards turned vampires were missing out at Hogwarts, and Cecelia nodded. “I’d hope that their parents would still try to educate them.” She told Nora. Just because someone was a vampire didn’t mean they stopped existing. Cecelia shuddered a little upon remembering Susan saying that she was no longer technically a witch, fitting instead under ‘Being’ in the Ministry’s classification. Nora said that she had just been invited to a beach party, and Cecelia nodded, understanding that meant her introductions would probably be irrelevant. “I’m happy to be done, yes.” She was excited to be able to live her own life without as many people peering over her shoulder simply because they could. “I’m an astronomer now. I study the sky.” Cecelia explained.

@nora

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Cecelia said her parents didn't know she was a vampire and Nora nodded slowly, her brow furrowed in thought. She wasn't sure if it would be polite to make any more comments about that, so she tried to keep it simple. "I see. Well, if you so choose to inform them I wish you luck, if you need it," that was supportive and vague enough, right?

Cecelia said that she would hope the parents of wizards turned vampires would still try to educate them and Nora nodded in agreement. She thought it was incredibly silly that vampires couldn't attend the school... maybe that was just an old fashioned rule that all the equality stuff hadn't gotten past yet. Cecelia said that she was an astronomer, studying the sky, and that she was happy to be done with school. Noras eyes brightened and she leaned forward just a little in excitement. "That sounds like an absolutely lovely way to spend your nights," she said excitedly, "I hope it doesn't get too lonely," she said, not thinking that was personal or anything, just stating what was on her mind.

@cecelia

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Cecelia nodded when Nora wished her luck if she ever chose to inform her parents. That would probably never happen, unless for some reason they decided they needed to see her in person, which was unlikely. They hadn’t even come to her graduation. “Thank you.” She responded softly. Even if she never did tell her parents, she’d need all the luck she could get for the various other things in her life that she still needed to untangle.

Nora seemed to be excited by the prospect of Cecelia being an astronomer, and the older girl smiled, fangs and all. (It felt good to smile, even if she still wasn’t a fan of the fangs, Cecelia thought.) At the comment about it being lonely, though, Cecelia froze. She was suddenly, acutely aware of the fact that she hadn’t yet told anyone about Grey… but she wanted to tell someone. Sure, maybe a random half-vampire at the blood bank wasn’t the best confidante, but Cecelia wasn’t sure if she could survive with the words clawing up her throat the way that they were. “I’m not lonely. I have a boyfriend.” She explained. “His name is Grey.” Holy shit. Somehow saying the words made it feel more real. She was dating Grey Slater. Holy shit!

@nora

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Cecelia thanked her softly and Nora offered her own small smile, knowing the topic of Cecelia's parents didn't need to be pressed any further. As for being lonely, Cecelia said that she wasn't lonely because she had a boyfriend named Grey. Nora smiled and nodded excitedly, "well that is nice! And he stays up with you? I don't sleep much either, really. Or rather, I prefer being out and about at night. You know, the sun and all," she explained. "I have a twin brother so I often have company. I'm sure a boyfriend is quite different from that," she laughed, loudly, tossing her head back for a moment to let the sound out before looking back at Cecelia. Then it was Nora's turn, and she turned toward the desk before turning back to Cecelia. "Nice to talk with you. Again," she smiled then went back to get her yummy blood.

@cecelia
(the end)

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When asked if her boyfriend stayed up with her, Cecelia shook her head. “He has a day job, so he can’t stay up at night. But he’s there, and that’s enough.” Sometimes, knowing that there was someone who would stay up with her if she asked – and she never would ask – was just as important as him actually, physically being with her. “I don’t sleep much either.” Cecelia agreed. Most of the time, she just wasn’t tired. And when she was tired, there were always things to worry about to keep her up at night. Her latest fear was how she was going to keep her sister a secret from Grey, but that was a different thought for a different time. But speaking of Braelynn… “I had a twin sister.” Cecelia said softly. “Being with her was different from being with my boyfriend, yes.” Cecelia swallowed back any further comments about Bay to answer Nora’s last question. “He’s training to become an Auror.” She answered. Cece wished that Grey had chosen a different path, but it was what it was. What would be would be, and Cecelia wouldn't change it.

@nora