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last online Mar 28, 2024 9:25:27 GMT -7
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Jan 14, 2021 17:18:05 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2021 17:18:05 GMT -7
january 3, 2026 Viola had a problem they couldn't solve on their own. And, unfortunately for them, the only person they could think of who could solve it was probably the only person in the world who really, really didn't want to see them. Unfortunately for Viola... they really wanted to see her. It was like a constant ache - had been for months. It probably would never go away, if they were honest. Broken hearts were hard to forget, especially when they had no idea how to move on, or where to move on to.
Even if they had wanted to avoid Maria, there was no way around it. Viola was... icy. Not just in their way of speaking (though Vi wasn't sure if they had ever managed to be icy personality-wise - blunt, maybe, but never cold), but with their hands. Ever since their return from Ysrile, ice had been spreading from every place Viola touched for long. It was involuntary; they had tried to control it, to stop it, but they couldn't.
Enter Maria. She could control her fire, but Viola wasn't always sure that had been the case. At the very least... maybe she would have something to say about Viola's situation. If Viola could find her.
@maria
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last online Mar 28, 2024 9:25:27 GMT -7
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Jan 14, 2021 17:42:18 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2021 17:42:18 GMT -7
January 3, 2026 @viola
Life was... quite boring right now to be honest. Boring and routine. She'd taken a few weeks off work, using time off she'd saved as she figured out her plan going forward. So her days had been spent throwing up, trying to keep anti nausea potions down, freaking out, finally calming down, then repeating. Rhys had help bring some sanity to it all, as at least she wasn't totally alone going through it all. But he'd run off to that new "island" all over the news for work. Honestly, she wished she could go herself. But no doubt he'd scream at her if she tried. That was a fight she wasn't ready to deal with. Today she'd gone to Diagon alley, to check out some of the after Christmas sales. Because, those were always the best. It had also been a better day in terms of morning sickness, so that was also a plus. She still wasn't showing (thank god), and she hadn't told anyone. So the news of her pregnancy was still a secret (except for Rhys and whoever Rhys had told. Hopefully no one...)
Maria had just gotten to the alley, bundled up in a nice coat, with a steaming coffee in a to-go cup in her hands, as she started to window shop. Trying to decide where to go first. When.. Something made her stop in her tracks. It was like she'd been hit by a full body binding curse, every muscle freezing in place.
Viola.
It had been a year and a half but she'd never forget that face. Never forget those expressions. Never forget those eyes. She managed to breath, only realizing in that moment that she'd initially stopped breathing when she saw Viola. Her heart raced, beating painfully fast in her chest as a thousand butterflies were set loose in her stomach. And oh her heart ached. Seeing Viola. It brought all those feelings back. The ones she'd been stuffing down and ignoring. The good and the bad. Part of her wanted to run to Viola, while the other half wanted to run away. Her indecision was what seemed to glue her to the spot, refusing to let her move as she stared at Viola with an expression that was near impossible to read.
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last online Mar 28, 2024 9:25:27 GMT -7
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Jan 14, 2021 18:07:17 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2021 18:07:17 GMT -7
Watching people their whole life had taught Viola a lot about how crowds moved. A crowd was like a living, breathing organism of its own, and when something – or someone – disrupted it, it was easy to tell. Viola saw the moment someone stopped in the crowd, saw the way other people ebbed and flowed around the obstruction, saw… everything. And at the center of it all was the person they had wanted to see, but also dreaded seeing. Same hair, same yes, same face. Same fire. Viola took a deep breath and straightened their shoulders, preparing themself as best as they could to go against the current of people to reach the blockage – also known as Maria da Silva Povoa.
In the minute, maybe ninety seconds, it took for Viola to fight through the crowd to where Maria was, they considered all manner of things to say. A love confession was the first thing that sprang to mind, of course. That hadn’t worked out well the first time, though, and Viola wasn’t the kind of person who made the same mistakes twice. Instead, they settled on telling Maria the truth, which was… well, it’s what they would’ve done anyways.
They gave her space, didn’t come any closer than they would’ve to a stranger. They were just strangers, Viola had to insist to themself. It had been too long for them to be anything more than strangers, hadn’t it? They avoided Maria’s eyes, unsure of what they would do if they dared look her full in the face. Viola focused their energy instead on forcing the words out of their aching lungs. “I need help.”
@maria
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last online Mar 28, 2024 9:25:27 GMT -7
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Jan 14, 2021 18:19:21 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2021 18:19:21 GMT -7
January 3, 2026 @viola
Maria was still struck by the sight of Viola. The good and bad feelings overwhelming her. It took far to long for her to realize that Viola was looking at her too. That their gaze met her own. It took even longer to realize that Viola was moving to her. When she did realize that, she stopped breathing again. Those two parts of her fought even harder. To rush forward or to run away. Neither one though, as both parts were equally as stubborn. So, she just stood there, frozen in place as Viola moved closer, closer... Until they were right in front of her. Only then did she manage a small breath. Viola stopped a... respectable distance away and Maria's heart ached. She didn't like this distance. She wanted to close it. But she didn't. Couldn't bring herself to do. Because that wouldn't be fair to Viola.
Viola wasn't looking at her. Why? She hated that. Hated that they were diverting their gaze when she desperately wanted to see those eyes. Viola was the first to speak between them, and their words stunned her. Help? The way Viola had said it... It was serious, whatever it was. Serious enough for Viola to find her. Which, in this moment made her realize Viola was looking for her. "Anything." She answered almost immediately. Whatever Viola needed. Whatever help it was. She didn't care. Never had. Whatever Viola wanted, Maria would do it.
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last online Mar 28, 2024 9:25:27 GMT -7
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Jan 14, 2021 18:37:02 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2021 18:37:02 GMT -7
The bad thing about not looking at Maria was that Viola didn’t know what she was thinking, how she was feeling, how she was going to react. She hadn’t always been an open book to them, but Viola liked to think by the end they understood Maria. They knew how she would react, knew what each twitch in her face meant. Now all they had was one word – Anything.
Viola hesitated. If they could have anything they would ask Maria for something entirely unrelated to the ice coming out of their hands. But that wasn’t what she meant. They took another deep breath (it was a miracle they could breathe at all with Maria that close) and peeled off the thick dragon skin gloves they had been wearing to keep from accidentally freezing everything in their path. The moment they peeled the gloves off their hands, ice began spreading along the outside, following the cracks and crevices of the dragon’s skin. “This started yesterday,” they stated flatly. Facts, only facts. That would keep them from accidentally falling in too deep with Maria. “I can’t control it. At all. And I need to know what to do.”
@maria
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last online Mar 28, 2024 9:25:27 GMT -7
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Jan 14, 2021 18:47:36 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2021 18:47:36 GMT -7
January 3, 2026 @viola
Why wouldn't Viola look at her? It was driving Maria insane. After so long, so long Viola just kept their eyes averted. She wanted to plead for them to look at her. Just once more. Maria swallowed hard, as if trying to swallow that desperation. No, they weren't together. Maria had broken up with Viola. She'd broken their heart. She had no right to want anything from Viola. And yet... Here Viola was. Needing her help.
She didn't know what Viola might say. What sort of help they might need. But Maria didn't care. She'd do anything for them. Whatever the cost. Maria just couldn't tell Viola no, even after so long. Maria finally managed to move, taking a tentative step closer as Viola took of a glove. Her gaze left Viola's face then, to glance down at their hands. Ice. She was pretty sure there hadn't been ice on the outside of the glove a moment before. That was... well... The irony wasn't lost on her. Viola was somehow making ice. The polar opposite of Maria. But how? She listened to the simple answer of "it started yesterday" and "can't control it". She took another tentative step closer. "What happened?"
Maria didn't really know why Viola had come to her for this. But that didn't mean she wouldn't do anything to help. But first, the how. If Viola had started creating ice... They hadn't just woke up and magically had the ability had they?
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last online Mar 28, 2024 9:25:27 GMT -7
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Jan 14, 2021 18:59:42 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2021 18:59:42 GMT -7
Viola’s eyes almost left their own hands when Maria asked what had happened. They wondered if she could tell, see the brief tension in their neck as they prepared to move before they stopped themself. Probably not. Maria didn’t study them the way they studied her. They didn’t mean anything to her. That was what Viola had to keep repeating, over and over, to keep themself from adding another item onto the list of things Maria could do for them. Anything – kiss me, then. Tell me it wasn’t all a lie, tell me you love me, tell me that for once I was normal and we had something real. Useless. Pathetic, really, to be pining after a girl who could have anyone else.
“I went to the island.” Viola didn’t doubt Maria knew the island they were talking about – everyone had been buzzing about it since it had been reported in the papers, and for once it seemed like something that happened in England that wasn’t just a horrible tragedy. A mystery, yes, but tragic? No, not at all. “I just – nothing’s been right since –” since we broke up “– since the explosion, and I wanted things to be right again and I was. I was dumb and thought it would fix things.” They hadn’t meant to say quite as much as they did, but Maria had always had that effect on them – made them talk more about their feelings than they were comfortable with, made them admit they were more than just a façade of bluntness and whatever the hell else they had spent their younger years pretending to be.
Then, like a puppet being tugged by a string, Viola’s chin jerked up. Their eyes met Maria’s, and –
Anything. “Please.” Viola didn’t know what they were asking for anymore, but they knew once they looked at Maria, they’d never be able to look away again.
@maria
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last online Mar 28, 2024 9:25:27 GMT -7
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Jan 14, 2021 19:13:18 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2021 19:13:18 GMT -7
January 3, 2026 @viola
Maria had to focus on what Viola was saying, instead of what Viola wasn't. Because it would drive her insane otherwise to see Viola, who was so headstrong and forward, act so... so evasive. Maria didn't like it. It made her feel a touch angry. To not have Viola's attention the way she wanted. But she knew she couldn't. Not after breaking up with them. She lost her right to demand things from Viola... As much as she hated it. So, she focused on the words.
The island. The one in the news probably. Where Rhys currently was. God, she didn't want to think about Rhys and Viola in the same sentence. So, the island. Okay. Viola went to the island. Then they elaborated and Maria's heart sunk. Her lips pursed tightly together. No one was the same after the explosion. Nothing had been right since then. She forced herself to nod, to silently acknowledge what Viola was saying.
Then, Viola looked up. Maria's eyes widened a touch, her lips parting as she finally saw Viola's face. There was a roaring in her ears and her heart beat even faster. Finally Viola was looking at her. With such desperation. Maria didn't even know how to help but god dammit, she'd do anything at this point. Anything for Viola. Mutely, unable to form the words, she nodded. She'd jsut have to figure out how to help. Somehow. Someway. Immediately she reached out and caught Viola's hand in her own. She didn't are about the ice. Though she felt it. A layer of frost covering her fingertips.. then her entire hand. Screw the cold. She was fucking fire. As if to prove that she concentrated on their enjoined hands. She didn't make fire but her hand definitely got hot, melting the ice as quickly as it formed. Then, she turned away. Not letting go of Viola's hand as she led them... Somewhere. She didn't know where. Somewhere they could talk that wasn't in the middle of a crowd.
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last online Mar 28, 2024 9:25:27 GMT -7
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Jan 14, 2021 19:20:30 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2021 19:20:30 GMT -7
It was funny, the things they remembered.
It was even funnier, the things they forgot.
When Maria’s fingers slipped through theirs, everything they remembered about holding her hand flooded through them – but so did everything they’d forgotten. If looking at Maria had been the point of no return, Viola wasn’t sure what holding her hand was. They wanted to protest as they watched the frost slowly encase Maria’s fingers, then her hand. Viola didn’t doubt Maria’s ability to melt the ice away, not with the fire she could control, but… why? Why would she hold Viola’s hand, knowing what would happen? Why would she do that, when she knew all she had to do was ask and Vi would follow her anywhere?
Anything. The word kept echoing as Maria led them into an alley, away from the crowd. Viola wasn’t sure which one of them stopped first, but they did know who decided how close they should be. When Maria stopped, they let themself in closer, not keeping the careful distance they had first asserted between them. There was still space, just… not as much. Viola’s walls hadn’t been as strong as they’d thought – everything that was keeping them from getting closer to Maria seemed… meaningless, all because of that stupid word. Anything.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” Viola whispered – but they still didn’t drop Maria’s hand. She would have to be the one to let go.
@maria
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last online Mar 28, 2024 9:25:27 GMT -7
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Jan 14, 2021 19:29:37 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2021 19:29:37 GMT -7
January 3, 2026 @viola
Viola's hand was exactly like she remembered. And she didn't want to let go. All those feelings she tried to keep buried were digging their way to the surface. Viola was here. With her. Call Maria selfish but she hated that this affliction Viola had was what had brought them back. But it was also selfish of her to expect Viola to want to come back after how cruelly she'd broken up with them. She squeezed Viola's hand a little tighter as she headed to an alley. It seemed that a year and a half had done nothing to diminish the feelings roaring inside her.
Only once they were out of the crowd and in the alley did Maria turn back to Viola. Viola was closer, but it was still like a wall was between them. Only their hands, still entwined, seemed to break the distance. Viola was the first to speak, and those words... Those hurt. Because that's was supposed to be her line. Not wanting to hurt Viola. Like she'd done so many goddamn times before. Maria pursed her lips tightly, part of her wanting to yell at Viola for thinking they could hurt her, the other part wanting to prove that Viola couldn't hurt her. That side one. Maria let go of Viola's hand. She closed the distance between them and threw her arms around Viola, hugging them tightly as if they might escape if she didn't. She buried her face in Viola's shoulder. "You've grown your hair out." Was her muffled "response". No, Viola wouldn't hurt her.
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last online Mar 28, 2024 9:25:27 GMT -7
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Jan 14, 2021 19:39:05 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2021 19:39:05 GMT -7
When Maria let go of their hand, Viola almost had enough time to think they were right – they were hurting Maria and she had just now realized it and she was going to walk away – before she pulled them into a hug. They didn’t have time to back away and even they could’ve, Viola wouldn’t have tried to avoid Maria. She was like a drug and they were addicted, well and truly. And it had been a long time since Viola hugged someone… a really long time. Viola’s arms slid around Maria’s waist. They’d like to say it was just because of instinct, but it wasn’t. They were choosing to hug Maria, knowing full well how their heart was going to be ripped into shreds when they let go again. Viola took another deep breath. This one wasn’t to steel themself, but to appreciate being close to Maria and breathe her in. She smelled like she had in Viola’s dreams – smoke and ash and an expensive perfume Viola didn’t know the name of.
“I was trying to find me again,” Viola murmured into Maria’s neck. Of course, changing their hair hadn’t helped them find themself, and now Viola knew why. They had been looking in all the wrong places. They hadn’t needed to find themself – they’d needed to find Maria. “I don’t…” Viola squeezed Maria tighter, like having her closer would somehow make all the words in their head become unjumbled. “I’m scared.”
@maria
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last online Mar 28, 2024 9:25:27 GMT -7
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Jan 14, 2021 19:49:58 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2021 19:49:58 GMT -7
January 3, 2026 @viola
Maria shouldn't have hugged Viola. She knew it the moment she hugged them. Because it meant she'd have to let go. Viola wasn't hers anymore. How the hell was she supposed to let Viola go after this? After Viola appeared before her? After all these feelings came rushing back to her. There was no way, not without breaking herself in the process. But it was too late. She tightened her arms around Viola. Enjoying their presence. Familiar and comforting. Though a little colder then she remembered, but that was okay. Maria was hot enough for the two of them (pun intended).
Viola said something about "finding themselves", which was total nonsense. Viola knew who they were. Viola. Her Viola. But the explosion had changed them. Just like it had changed Maria. It had broken something and Viola was trying to fix it. That Maria understood. Then, the next words. Words and made Maria swallow hard and tighten her arms around Viola. Scared. Yeah, that was a very familiar feeling right now. For an obviously different reason. "It's okay." She whispered. Clearly it wasn't "okay", but that was irrelevant. Maria would make it okay. Somehow. "We'll figure it out." We. Not Viola alone. Maria had said anything.
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last online Mar 28, 2024 9:25:27 GMT -7
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Jan 14, 2021 19:57:29 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2021 19:57:29 GMT -7
It had been a long time since Viola had hugged anyone, but even longer since they’d held anyone like this. It might’ve even been that Maria was the last person they’d let be this close to them for this long. Their memory was hazy, but that felt right. Being with Maria felt right, which was even scarier, because she wasn’t supposed to be this way. They weren’t supposed to fit together anymore. They were supposed to have… what, grown up? Grown apart they had done, but Viola wasn’t sure they could consider themself more mature than they had been. Maybe it was their own faulty logic to assume that their relationship with Maria needed to be different, but it was easier if they had no expectations of getting back together with Maria, if there wasn’t that dream to chase. Maybe they could be friends.
(Even as they were thinking it, Viola knew that was a lie. They could never be just friends with Maria, not after everything that had happened.)
“I have to go back there,” Viola said softly. They didn’t know what had happened on the island, and it seemed like the easiest way to figure that out was to go back to the scene of the crime, so to speak. “Come with me?” They hadn’t meant to ask, but… Anything. Besides, hadn’t they been told that it wasn’t safe to be on the island alone?
@maria
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last online Mar 28, 2024 9:25:27 GMT -7
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Jan 14, 2021 20:09:54 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2021 20:09:54 GMT -7
January 3, 2026 @viola
Go back?
Those words made Maria hug Viola tighter. After it had already done.... whatever this was? Viola was making ice the way Maria made fire. Only, Viola's wasn't in control. Why would you want to go back to that place? She wanted to tell them no. THey weren't allowed to go back. They could stay here. With her. They could figure it out here. But part of her knew that wasn't going to happen. She'd studied magic enough, and heard enough about the island to know that going back to the source would be required. Because if you didn't understand something, the only way to even attempt to fix it was to understand it in. It was a must. And yet, Maria wouldn't let them go alone. No. What if something else happened? Viola had just come back. What if they didn't come back?
Those feelings terrified Maria. These possessive feelings, despite so much time passing. God, she really wasn't over Viola, was she?
Then, three words. Simple words. But words that carried the weight of a world.
Come with me.
Maria pulled back a little, still holding onto Viola, but far enough back to look at them, her gaze meeting their own. What was she supposed to say? How did she respond to that? "Okay." She spoke, even though her thoughts were still trying to comprehend the gravity of the request. It was like her mind and her mouth had completely disconnected. "Whatever it takes." Again, she spoke without thinking. Maria had said anything after all. And she did mean anything.
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last online Mar 28, 2024 9:25:27 GMT -7
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Jan 14, 2021 20:25:12 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2021 20:25:12 GMT -7
Viola felt Maria’s arms get tighter around them when they said they wanted to go back. If they hadn’t known better they would’ve thought she was… trying to protect them? It was like things used to be, but also not at all. Viola had been able to protect themself, once upon a time. They were going to be that person again. They were going to be okay. Maybe everything would slide back into place as easy as Maria had. Granted, it was a different place than before, but… but they had Maria back, and that couldn’t be a bad thing.
When maria pulled back, Viola’s eyes darted to her lips. Being within hugging distance also meant they were within kissing distance, and it would be easy as hell to throw caution to the wind and kiss Maria. They’d certainly done crazier things than that before, but… now wasn’t the time. Not when their ice was spreading all over Maria’s clothes and they were still certain Maria didn’t feel anything for them. They never wanted to do anything she didn’t want – not even a kiss.
“Thank you.” Viola rested their forehead against Maria’s. “I don’t deserve this, but thank you.” And they didn't deserve it; they had run away, and were coming back just to ask for help, and… they didn't deserve how readily Maria was willing to help them, even if it was just repayment for breaking their heart.
@maria
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