turning page | delilah

[yvonne rae de snaijer]

shooting the moon .

DECEMBER 2022

YVONNE'S SECOND YEAR...

Winter’s arrival in the year of 2022 meant that Yvonne was soon falling into another year of anger and loneliness. Surely enough, she saw her younger sister almost every day, considering the classes she spent with her as well as bonded with her friends from other houses and even other years including Jace Hunter who was in the year above her. Winter’s arrival also reminded the De Snaijer girl that her birthday was just a few months shy, something she never looked forward to as her parents spent the twin’s last birthday’s too busy with their jobs. Typical aurors. Though, Yvonne knew she couldn’t fault her parents – she still loved them dearly and most of the time avoided allowing her emotions to spill into her work – hoping to be just like them when she was of age. An auror too.

As the countdown to Christmas began and snow began to get just a tad heavier around the grounds of the Wizarding School, Yvonne swore to herself she had never seen so many students in the common room that belonged to the students of Horned Serpent. As she sat comfortably on the couch, hazel eyes lifted every so often from the book that the girl had lazily picked upon, watching the flurry of blue and cranberry robes hurry in and out. Couldn’t people just stay in one place? Though as her eyes glanced up the hundredth time, eyes locked on with another pair – a face that wasn’t exactly a stranger, but wasn’t exactly familiar.

Delilah Smith was someone Yvonne had grown to adore – look up to. She wasn’t afraid of speaking her mind and that’s exactly how Yvonne strived to be. At least whenever her sister wasn’t around. The brunette was tired of listening to simple whines and complaints about small things from her other second year peers and instead found joy from teasing them, mocking the way they sounded and even lying when they tattled to the Professors. Babies. Yvonne had never psychically spoken to the elder Horned Serpent girl and she knew she wanted to now, but the words seemed to refuse to leave her mouth. Instead, she sent a shaky smile in the girls direction, the book resting in her lap soon coming to a close.

@delilah & hope this works!

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

weaned on poison.

ILVERMORNY WAS SPECIAL TO DELILAH IN THE way that it was just hers. Of course, she wrote in her journals every day and her mother read them and critiqued her form and childish inner monologue in the holidays between semesters, but she wasn't there. As much as Delilah idolised her mother, she enjoyed the way that people perceived her at the wizarding school. She wasn't the daughter of the beautiful, courageous Veela. She was Delilah, and even if that was a great ruse on its own, it was a ruse of her own creation.

In the common room of the Horned Serpents, she fielded the odd greeting and smiled her beatific smile - of which she'd practised extensively in the mirror back home. It was pretty perfect, if she said so herself. Delilah almost believed it herself as she took a seat in a wing-backed armchair by the fire and leaned her head back until it lolled like a little dolly on a string. She looked sleepy, but she was actually wired, her eyes carefully scanning the room and everybody in it. She was still learning, still making her mind up about the people she shared space with. Eventually, her gaze caught on somebody who was staring back.

Delilah's first instinct was to pull a stupid face, and she might've done if it hadn't been Yvonne sitting on the leather sofa opposite to her, a book comically large in her lap. So, instead of doing that she allowed a little smile to crawl across the corners of her mouth and very slowly pulled herself away from her comfortable chair. Without a word, she stood up, smoothed down her skirt and walked the few short feet to take the seat beside her. "Hiya, Vonnie." She said in her sweet tea voice, her cheeks hiking and then dropping. She didn't smile without having to try. "What'cha reading?" She squinted and wrinkled her nose at the tiny gold print on the cover. "I don't even know what that's supposed to say." She gave a melodious laugh and shrugged as she sat back. 

yvonne rae de snaijer

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[yvonne rae de snaijer]

shooting the moon .

It was hard to guess if whatever God or Supernatural being that was out there was messing with her life or if the Gods Yvonne should have been praying to had heard her prayers. Delilah Smith was actually…Talking to her. While the two shared a House, a common room and potentially mutual interests, Yvonne never saw an open window, an opportunity for the blonde to ever speak to her. But somehow, this day she was lucky entirely.

The warmness that surrounded the two Horned Serpent girls was from the well lit fire, while the coziness that the common room had was mainly from the sofas and chairs everyone usually sat on. While the De Snaijer craved the comfort of being with her sister, at times she asked herself, what if fate separated each sister for its own reasons? For each of them to be their own person? Yvonne tended to believe that was the best reason to look into it. But when Delilah approached her, skirt smoothed to perfection and face: innocent and incredibly cute-looking. Yvonne’s lips disappeared into her mouth, her bottom lip in need of nervous chewing while her mind wracked around for possible words.

”H-How do you know my name?” She stammered, eyes blown wide as she looked up at her elder. Surely she hadn’t said it too loud…Maybe Ilvermorny had a record of all the current students lying around somewhere. But where had the nickname come from? Vonnie? It sounded like something Yvette could call her. But Yvonne wasn’t mad at it at all. Instead she was rather shocked — at a lost for words. When questioned on the book she was reading, the De Snaijer’s hands fumbled for the cover of the book, eyes squinting as she read aloud the title. ”T-The Standard Book of Spells…” Trailing off, Yvonne avoided Delilah’s gaze, feeling somewhat intimidated.

While the brunette adored the elder witch, her mind couldn’t help but think of all the stupid things she could possibly say and ruin her chances of even speaking to Delilah in the future. ”W-We were told to read it for our…C-Charms assignment.”

@delilah

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

weaned on poison.

A PART OF DELILAH DELIGHTED AT YVONNE'S nervous demeanour. Her wide eyes and thinned lips, she was like a deer caught in headlights. That was probably why she lingered, sitting beside her with a delicate little smile on her face. "What do you mean?" She asked, playing dumb. Yvonne was the type of figure who lingered on the outskirts of Delilah and her friend group. And outlier and otherwise unremarkable figure in the distance. But, Delilah made a point of learning everyone's names and Yvonne was just interesting enough to warrant as much attention.

"Oh!" Delilah laughed, pressing her small hand to her chest as if it was hilarious. "Silly me." She tutted at herself as she sat back, crossing her legs at the ankle. "I remember that book." Though she did fairly well in school, Delilah had always maintained an appearance of being ditsy. People were rarely threatened by the mindless. "Guess I can't read upside down." She smiled and nudged Yvonne like they were old pals. She enjoyed the way the over familiarity made her squirm a bit, floundering as she struggled to understand the sudden attention.

"Do you like Charms?" Delilah wondered, pretending to be curious as she inspected her skirt for loose threads. "I've always found the writing portions to be... kinda tedious." This wasn't really true, but it was a common complaint. Delilah was actually a very good writer, and had an articulate and cursive hand. "But, that's just me."

yvonne rae de snaijer

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[yvonne rae de snaijer]

shooting the moon .

The crackles of the fire was all Yvonne mainly heard as she spaced out. She hadn’t exactly expected Delilah Smith to ever speak to her, even if they had crossed paths many times. The beads of sweat that formed on her forehead only added to her nervousness and the smile upon Delilah’s lips only made it a little worse. ”We…I…” Yvonne paused to clear her throat briefly, her hand coming up to cover her mouth as she did so. ”We-We’ve…Never spoken before.” At least Yvonne thought so. Unless there was a time the De Snaijer couldn’t remember, as if the memory had been taken away from her. But she knew that wasn’t the case. ”Well I think anyway…” She added in a soft mumble, eyes trailing away and settling upon the bottom of the fire pit, where flames cracked and settled upon the wood.

Being a second year, spells were still something Yvonne still had to learn as her confidence around magic as a whole wasn’t as great as her sisters. She knew that one day she wanted to be just like her parents, hard-working Aurors, saving others through talented magical skills but knew she had a long way to go. ”You do?” She asked. Yvonne knew Delilah was in her fourth or fifth year, and reading such a simple book like the one upon the Horned Serpents lap surely must have been long ago. She found herself forcing a small smile while she gulped her nervousness down, laughing quietly once Delilah nudged her. It was if they had been friends for a long time, even though this was their first conversation in the two years the De Snaijer had been in the school. ”I guess not.” She added on.

While Charms was an important subject for all wizards, Yvonne hadn’t found the passion most people had for their favourite subjects as of yet. Her enjoyment mainly rested along reading books as a whole or music. Muggle music was quite enjoyable to listen to. ”Kind of.” She responded, looking up at the elder Horned Serpent. ”It’s…Annoying I agree…” Yvonne didn’t like the writing portion of the class considering she was left-handed and ink from the quills usually stained her hand. ”I wish I wasn’t left handed. So I could avoid ink stains.” She muttered with a small smile.

@delilah

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

weaned on poison.

SHRUGGING HER SHOULDERS EASILY, DELILAH was not deterred by their lack of familiarity. And a part of her enjoyed the fact that it unsettled Yvonne. She seemed to shrivel under Delilah's attention, stuttering over her words, her forehead glistening with a sheen of sweat. Delilah hadn't realised the effect she could have on people. Was it the company she kept, or was her mother's good teachings finally pulling through. She couldn't be sure, but she would analyse this for some time, mulling over the younger girls reaction and picking it apart.

"That don't matter," Delilah said easily, shifting closer to Yvonne with an easy smile. "We're talkin' now." Which, as far as she was concerned, was the only thing that mattered. Though, she wasn't quick to ease the young girls surprise. Delilah kind of liked it. "I don't bite." At least, not in the literal sense. She had lovely straight teeth she intended to keep intact.

Delilah was actually very good at Charms, but she'd mussed up a few tests to keep up appearances before. She was a 'practical' kind of girl, according to professors. Better at acting out than detailing theory, so she'd stuck with that assumption with dumb delight. "I was almost left handed," Delilah said, straightening out a wrinkle in her dress. "But, mama says left-handed girls are messy writers." She clicked her tongue and acted dumb to the mild insult she'd sent Yvonne's way. "So, now I can use both." She donned a beaming smile, cheeks high as she looked at Yvonne. "I'd be the perfect spy." 

yvonne rae de snaijer

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[yvonne rae de snaijer]

shooting the moon .

It was natural for the De Snaijer to feel uncomfortable. Little things bothered her, especially with the pressure of staying strong for her twin, considering their split when the two first enrolled into Ilvemrorny a few years back. Her mood swings were wild back then, filling herself with anger as she believed to be abandoned, but she knew it wasn’t Yvette’s fault. It was Yvonne’s. She was different from her sisters, colder than them possibly but smarter nevertheless. She knew Delilah was…Somewhat like her, but just confident. It was simply a thing the Horned Serpent lacked. And even though she stuttered around the Smith, she refused to let it continue any longer — or well. Past this day.

Delilah shifted closer to Yvonne, leading to a rush of red spread across her cheeks and her breath to hitch. ”I-I guess.” She responded in another stutter. There goes the confidence she was feeling. ”I…I don’t know that.” It was true, while Yvonne respected Delilah and her views on everything, she didn’t know her past the respect she held. What if the Smith turned out to be a bitch instead of the sharp tongued angel? ”M-Maybe you’re just a bit mean.” It was a joke that Yvonne hoped Delilah understood.

A crack of a smile formed on Yvonne’s lips following Delilah’s comments. Her mother’s words were true, most left handed people were messy writers, and Yvonne slotted into that category perfectly. The insult implied behind the statement went completely over the De Snaijer’s head, unknowing to her. Unlike Yvette who had the fanciest cursive writing, Yvonne’s was simplified with print. ”If I’m not returning here without at least one ink stain on my hand, I probably wasn’t paying attention.” She admitted, jokingly. ”Could you teach me? To write with my right?” And become a spy — she wanted to add, but left it out.

@delilah

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

weaned on poison.

FOR A SECOND DELILAH DIDN'T GET THE JOKE and she thought Yvonne saw something in her that often went unnoticed. That coldness she tried to hard to hide. Her expression paused for an unnatural moment before she broke out in to an unnervingly large smile, teeth flashing as she nudged her playfully. "Maybe I am," She pretended to tease, but she often thought that that wasn't entirely untrue. Her lack of appreciation for weakness - inherited from her mother - made her a little meaner. She'd just learned how to hide it when necessary.

Though at her genuine request, Delilah paused again - this time with thought. Delilah's mother had been merciless in her many teachings. Something told her Yvonne wouldn't benefit from the same teaching styles the way Delilah had. "It's not that easy when you're older," She said evasively, recalling the spells her mother would do to cripple her left hand before forcing her to copy text after text until the nib of her quill wore down to nothing. Until she had perfected her scrawl. "I could break your hand," She shrugged, sitting back as if she hadn't technically threatened her with injury. "The only way you can really learn is if you have no other option." Her smile appeared to soften, her head tilted sweetly. "You know?"

yvonne rae de snaijer

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[yvonne rae de snaijer]

shooting the moon .

BEING A STUTTERING mess simply wasn’t good for Yvonne’s mean and upcoming image. First year proved that she wasn’t exactly nice after all, especially with the abandonment issues she had developed but never revealed to anyone. And while second year had only somewhat just begun, Yvonne noticed the differences in how people approached her. Even Brody. It was like they were all…Afraid. Hesitant that she would bite their heads off. It was possible. But now sitting next to Delilah, Yvonne succumbed to nothing but a nervous mess. The Horned Serpent had a kind of aura surrounding her, intimidating but…Approachable. It was confusing. ”Teach me.” She found herself murmuring, but hoped the blonde would take it as a mere joke, considering how young and naive most people the De Snaijer’s age seemingly were.

Eyes widened at the offer, as strange as it was, Yvonne had the feeling that Delilah wasn’t kidding. She shuffled a bit in her seat, watching as the Smith leaned back, a smile on her lips. ”So…Torture?” She answered, her response more of a question than a confident reply. She couldn’t imagine the unbearable pain — with the many bones the human hand had as a whole. But Yvonne knew…She most definitely didn’t know what Delilah was on about. ”That’s your…Only option? You couldn’t just…” Yvonne paused, pushing the book from her lap onto the plump couch cushion beside her. ”I-I don’t know. T-Tie my hand behind my back?” It seemed less…Painful.

@delilah

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

weaned on poison.

THE GIRLS REQUEST STALLED DELILAH SLIGHTLY as she wondered what she had meant. Did she mean for her to teach her something so... ordinary? To most people, Delilah was as sweet as could be. But, she always liked to flex that inner cruelty when others least expected it. Her mother had taught her how useful it was to be cold. How practical it could be to detach oneself from petty, soft things like 'compassion' and 'selflessness'. Neither won anybody anything tangible, as far as she was concerned. But, she'd never been asked such a thing.

With a tinkling laugh, she squinted at Yvonne. "Teach you what?" She asked, feigning confusion. Maybe the girl was just joking, she thought. A passing comment throwing Delilah's persona in to question. But, there was something still in her eyes, the way she caught Delilah's gaze and kept it. There was something decidedly unfunny about and expression like that. In piqued her curiosity. How far could she push before the truth came spilling out?

"That's not proper torture!" Delilah snapped, defending her mother's methods. Witches and wizards had ways of healing that were unlike the no-maj realms. But, luckily, Delilah hadn't needed her hand to be broken. She was too eager to keep her mother's favour. It made her an easy student, most of the time. If she failed, she simply had her hand cursed in to odd and painful angles - leaving her with no other choice but to use the opposite hand.

"It's not the only option," Delilah shrugged, though it was certainly the most effective. With a twist of her lips, she relented with a nod. "I suppose that might work," She tutted, a little miffed that her mother had never used such a tactic on her. She gnawed on the inside of her cheek thoughtfully, before settling on something in her mind before she spoke with purpose. "Fine," She said, her nose lifting in the air. "I might try and teach you." This was, of course, dependant on how long Yvonne could keep Delilah's careful attention. And that her friends never found out. 

yvonne rae de snaijer

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[yvonne rae de snaijer]

shooting the moon.

LIPS PARTED IN CONFUSION over the silence that burdened the air. Surely Yvonne had asked carefully and clearly about what she wanted. Delilah seemed confident enough, a sharp tongue hidden by a smiley face. Or at least that was Yvonne’s observation. Swallowing down a dry lump, eyes wandered off, looking down at the floor of the common room. She simply didn’t want to be the forgotten twin anymore. It was her own fault really, for pulling an anti-social phase while her sister blossomed, making friends left, right and centre. Sure, Yvonne had Brody…But that was all. Brody put up with Yvonne’s moods, for reasons she couldn’t even understand.

”To be like you. To…Understand you.” She murmured. Surely the blonde could understand what she was saying. Was she playing dumb? ”You act as if nothing bothers you…You always smile…You’re willing to take action to things that might not even need it.” She wasn’t trying to call the girl violent, but the persona she had placed implied she wasn’t scared for a fight. In the midst of their arguments, Yvonne shook her head. ”Forcing me to use my other hand because my dominant hand would be broken…Is proper torture.” She retorted.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Yvonne was glad to know Delilah would be open to trying…Other methods. Her eyes lit up at Delilah’s conclusion, feeling the need to hug the older Horned Serpent, but restricted herself from doing so. ”T-Thank you!” She stuttered in surprise, a wide smile plastered on her lips. Now she had someone to actually look up to. ”For this and for not…planning to break my hand.”

@delilah & here is where mean girl yvonne was born, thx to her teachers teachings

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[Deleted]

weaned on poison.

DELILAH DID NOT WISH TO BE UNDERSTOOD. She much preferred the anonymity of her personality. That her friends thought she was one thing and she was, in fact, something else entirely. But, she didn't warn Yvonne of this. Instead, she tilted her head, narrowing her eyes as if she were inspecting the younger girl. Measuring her and deciding whether or not she was worth teaching anything at all. She liked the idea of her squirming about it, concerned that Delilah might simply say no. She almost did, but the request was just too delicious.

"I won't make it easy for you." She said, flipping her hair over one shoulder and shifting on the seat, closer to the edge. "Good manners are imperative," She was like a echo of her mother. "It proves that we are better." She shot Yvonne a look from down the length of her nose. Her posture ever so straight, her knees together all the way to the ankle. "Lesson number one," Delilah said and she leaned in close, her smile going cold. "Never let anyone see your real face." She lifted her brows delicately before flashing her teeth. "They'll only use it against you."

And then, quite swiftly, she sat back. Yvonne's opinions seemed to show plain on her face. When she didn't like something, Delilah could tell. That would have to change, she thought. She sat back, her hand snapping out so that her knuckles rapped against Yvonne's knee. "And sit up straight!" She hissed, wrinkling her nose slightly. "You'll put a kink in your spine." Her soft Southern accent like butter even when providing criticism. Her stuttered remark rankled Delilah slightly, but she didn't comment on her poor diction quite yet. "I never said I wouldn't." She warned Yvonne, wondering if she would back out already. "I just haven't decided yet."

[END?]

yvonne rae de snaijer  
could potentially end this here and start something more present?

NEVERLAND at ADOXOGRAPHY 2.0!

[yvonne rae de snaijer]

[END!]
note: yes to an updated thread! i will pm you for ideas!