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last online Apr 26, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Mar 24, 2016 21:49:56 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2016 21:49:56 GMT -7
Dusti couldn't breath.
She'd just spoken with her father, and it had not been a good conversation in the least. He hadn't struck her, no surprise since they were at the school, he had a way for verbally beating her down. It left her angry, and depressed. And, as terrible as it sounded, she wanted to take out all those emotions on someone else. Unfortunately that was a trait she'd acquired from her parents that her siblings didn't share. They all shied away from violence, even Raleigh. For all his faults, he would never raise a hand to someone. Dusti on the other hand? It was so, so hard to control sometimes.... She wanted to inflicted harm on someone, to make herself feel better. And that just made her even angrier, because it meant she was just like them.
So, she had to get far away. from everyone. No where in the school was safe, and so she stormed through the halls and out the doors like a wrath. She practically radiated fury, and no one dared to stop her or get in her way. The forest would be her sanctuary until she could calm down and act civilly again. What she didn't realize though that, in her blind rage she'd run right past Albus,
In the forest, she walked in complete silence for over fifteen minutes until she was sure she was far from anyone. Once totally alone she turned and slammed both of her clenched fists into a tree and let out a frustrated scream. Yeah. She was angry. Angrier then anyone but her own siblings and parents had ever seen. All the while, she was blissfully unaware that Albus had followed her....
@al (O.O she maaaaaaaad)
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last online Apr 26, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Mar 26, 2016 18:31:45 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2016 18:31:45 GMT -7
@dusti the forbidden forest probably wasn't the best place for someone who needed sticks to help him walk to go but albus was determined to see if dusti was okay. he'd seen her with her father, well he'd seen her walk away from her father looking as angry as he'd ever seen her and it had stirred something in him, anger at her father for putting her in such a mood. it wasn't like things weren't hard enough for her at the moment with her brother being gone. as much as she tried to act like she didn't care about raleigh it was there, al saw it because he was often the same way about james and lily. he hadn't tried to stop her when she had stormed past him, he knew better than that so he had followed her at his own pace, giving her time to get to where he knew she would go and then he could do it without ending up on his butt in front of the entire student body. he was curious about what had gone down between her and her father, what would make her that angry. he knew bits and pieces of her home life, only thing he had been able to piece together out of things she had let slip without meaning too but still it was enough of a picture for him to work out things weren't very good.
he found her in the forest, heard her before he found her though and he frowned slightly as he came across her with her fists against the tree. he moved into the clearing and moved to stand in the middle of it. "someone need a hug?" he asked, letting his voice drip with sarcasm to hide the concern he was feeling. he was certain the last thing dusti wanted was someone to fawn over her and ask her if she was alright and to tell her things would be okay. that was the worst thing someone could do to people like al and dusti, coddle them. he rested on his crutches lightly, keeping his green eyes on her as he stood there, waiting for her to make her move on whether she'd have a go at him for following her or take him up on that hug.
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last online Apr 26, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Mar 27, 2016 11:59:31 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2016 11:59:31 GMT -7
Dusti twitched when she heard Albus speak behind her. She refused to look at him though, at least right now. Because she was seeing red, and could feel the desire to take out all this rage and frustration on him. That feeling.... terrified her. Next to her sister, Albus was her closest friend. How could she.... want to hurt him? It only made her realize even more just how much she was like her father.
Forcing her self to breath, she leaned her forehead against the tree in dead silence. Why had Al followed her out here? He wasn't in any condition to be wandering around out here! Not only that, she didn't want him to see her like this. Like she was about to lose control of everything at any moment. To be so... so emotional. Dusti was usually a very cold, but composed person. Losing control of her emotions like this made her feel so... so weak.
"You shouldn't be out here, Al. Go back." she finally managed to force herself to say, her voice straining as she tried to sound as calm as possible. It wasn't working though. To her, she sounded like the coward her father thought she was. Despite everything she'd done in her life to be strong and protect her sister, she was still that powerless child...
@al
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last online Apr 26, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Mar 28, 2016 16:34:44 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2016 16:34:44 GMT -7
@dusti "You shouldn't be out here, Al. Go back." he shook his head slightly. she wasn't looking at him so he doubted that she had seen it but the action felt needed. he wan't going to leave her while she was like this, as detached as he was he didn't like knowing that other people were hurting especially someone who meant so much to him. he wanted to go over to her and just wrap his arms around her in a hug but he stopped himself from doing it, it wouldn't help and neither of them were particularly huggy people so he had to admit the feeling of wanting to hug her was a little foreign to him, no matter how he felt toward her. he ran his hand through his hair as his green eyes settled on her back. "neither should you. not unless you come back with me dusti" he said, moving to take a step closer. "don't want you getting bitten by the things that go bump in the night down here" he said as he stopped closer to her. he wouldn't push her to come back but he wasn't going to leave her down here on her own, mad or not it still wasn't a good place to be, in a group or on your own.
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last online Apr 26, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Mar 30, 2016 21:01:02 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2016 21:01:02 GMT -7
Dusti recognized the concern in Albus' voice. Oh, he tried to hide it, but she could hear it. She spoke the same way when she was trying to sound less caring then she actually was. Taking another slow deep breath, she forced her hands to relax from the tight fists they'd been in before she broke the skin in her palms. Again. There were a few old scars from the last time she was this mad. "I don't want to go back." She hissed in response as she pushed away from the tree and whirled around to face him. He was only a few feet away, but she didn't move closer to him. She just glared from the safe distance she was maintaining. Part of her feared that if he got closer.... that'd he'd see what her father saw. He'd see the weak girl, struggling to keep her head afloat and everyone safe at the same time.
"I don't need anyone trying to protect me. I've done just fine on my own until now." She snapped as he mentioned the forest and the dangers lurking with in. It didn't scare her. How could it? She turned away from him. "There are worse things out there." She added under her breath.
@al
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last online Apr 26, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Mar 31, 2016 21:29:55 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2016 21:29:55 GMT -7
@dusti "I don't want to go back." he stood where he was as she spun around to hiss the words at him. he didn't let himself react to the look in her eye, how her voice sounded. she was hurting and he knew how it felt. there wasn't that much distance between them and if he took a step forward he'd be able to touch her if he wanted to but he didn't think that was the smartest option, on someone different than dusti maybe, but they were so much alike and he himself hated contact when he was upset. usually. "I don't need anyone trying to protect me. I've done just fine on my own until now." he shook his head at that and frowned himself at her. she wasn't alone, it might be hard for her to think it now but she hadn't been on her own since they had been friends. "you haven't been on your own for seven years. since we met on the train remember? i've been there and i'm still here now. rusti is there for you. scorp is there for you. you just choose to think you're on your own" he pointed out to her, though he wondered if the anger she was feeling would allow her to see that she had people that cared. maybe they weren't people that were so open about it as others but the thought was there. "There are worse things out there." he chewed his lip and looked at her. about to take a risk that might just get him killed but he felt like he should get her talking. he was going to be a hypocrite here, he himself wasn't able to open up to people, to let them see what he was feeling inside and here he was going to try and burrow into dusti's but hey .. he didn't have to practice what he preached. "like your father?" he'd seen marcus flint a little while before he had seen dusti hurry through the halls and he was willing to bet that he had something to do with it.
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last online Apr 26, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Mar 31, 2016 22:29:35 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2016 22:29:35 GMT -7
Dusti was grateful he didn't try touching her right now. Didn't try that whole.... comforting thing. She'd never been a very touchy person, and actually hated when most people even attempted to touch her. She tolerated a few people, of course, and Albus was one of them. Right now though? She wasn't even sure if she could tolerate him. She'd probably just pull away. And he seemed to understand that.
Her back was already to him when he started to say that she wasn't alone, and hadn't been for years. She turned back to look at him, her expression hard to read. IT was somewhere between the unbridled rage still racing through being and... a longing to say something. Something that wouldn't come out. Yes, they were all... there. But they didn't know. Not everything. While still the closest people to her, even Al knew that she kept him at arm's length sometimes. She met his gaze for several moments, as if trying to decide how to respond. To snap at him denying it, even though she knew she'd be lying? To admit it, even though that also felt like lying in a way? In the end, she chose to say nothing at all, turning away from him and taking a few steps away.
"like your father?"
Dusti stopped midstep at that, whirling around to face him again. "You don't know the first thing about him, or any of that." She snapped. Obviously he'd struck a nerve at that remark. She let out a slow breath, swallowing that flash of anger she'd felt when he'd spoken. "He wants to take us out of school. Not just for the rest of the year." She finally, and slowly admitted. Her voice went cold, and almost haunted.
@al
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last online Apr 26, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Apr 16, 2016 11:05:14 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2016 11:05:14 GMT -7
@dusti "You don't know the first thing about him, or any of that." he shook his head and frowned slightly, feeling slightly frustrated right at that moment. he didn't know anything about it because she never told him. "because you've never told me" he said, a little more rough than he had meant to. and in that moment he realized he sounded like a hypocrite. if there was someone worse than dusti for not sharing it was him, so to have those words come out of his mouth felt wrong. "He wants to take us out of school. Not just for the rest of the year." a sharp sudden stab of fear rushed through him as she dropped that bombshell on him. he what? no he couldn't. could he? he tried not to let it show but he was sure the feeling had flashed onto his face and into his eyes as he moved to take a step toward her. "he can't take you out. i mean you can't .. he just can't." it was strange, this dread that was building in his stomach at the thought of her not being around anymore. he reached out in that moment to clasp his hand around her shoulder gently. "dusti"
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last online Apr 26, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Apr 16, 2016 22:39:15 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2016 22:39:15 GMT -7
"Because you've never told me."
Dusti gritted her teeth at his words. That wasn't fair! She knew he at least suspected that there was something.... off about the Flints. Considering the personalities of all four children, it was a surprise no one had figured it out sooner. Maybe they had. But no one had ever mentioned it to her. "It isn't something you'd want to know..." She managed to respond as she refused to look at him. He wouldn't understand. Despite knowing her so well, and being so similar, this was one thing he wouldn't get. He didn't know just how.... how lucky he was. "My family isn't like yours, Al." she added softly.
His reaction to her father's plans was to be expected. It was almost identical to her own when she'd first heard it. Dusti clenched her fists again as she kept her face turned away. "He's my father, it's his right." She hissed, reusing the words her father had used during that conversation. Even when she felt Al's touch, his hand on her shoulders, she didn't look back at him. "He's already made up his mind...."
@al
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last online Apr 26, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Apr 21, 2016 11:31:45 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2016 11:31:45 GMT -7
@dusti "It isn't something you'd want to know... My family isn't like yours, Al." no her family wasn't like his but it seemed that almost everyone thought they were normal. his family had flaws like everyone else. he had a mother who didn't know who he was, a little sister who had been bitten by a werewolf and an older brother who had hated him for the last seven years because of his uniform. "please don't. my family is flawed like everyone elses. maybe not as badly as yours but it's not all sunshine and rainbows" he said, getting a little defensive which is the last thing he wanted. he rubbed his fingers into his eyes and looked at her. "i can guess some things your father's done .." he said softly as he stepped toward her.
"He's my father, it's his right. He's already made up his mind...." he shook his head a little and looked at her. okay no there had to be a way to keep her in school. to keep him from taking her out. "we'll talk to neville. see if there's something he can do" he said quickly, not wanting to give up the thought of keeping her at the school. well he knew he was getting lost in how to keep her at the school he couldn't help it. he didn't want to see her taken out of school. to not be able to talk to her. "there has to be something"
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last online Apr 26, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Apr 24, 2016 16:31:50 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2016 16:31:50 GMT -7
Dusti shouldn't let him keep getting closer. she'd put that distance between them for a reason! And yet she didn't. She didn't stop him, or move away. Not when he moved closer, or when he touched her shoulders. She wasn't looking at him though. When he said that he could guess what her father had done though, her gaze shot up. Thankfully her expression remained clear of he surprise. "And what do you guess?" How much had he figured out? Not only that, he was close, very close. For a moment she felt that flash of anger, the desire to lash out at someone, but it only lasted a moment.
Talk to Neville? Well... She had threatened to do exactly that. "I don't think even the Headmaster can stop my father when his mind is made up." She slowly admitted. But there was a dark, unforgiving, and unyielding look in her eyes. She hadn't given up yet. "With the right... persuasion though he might hesitate. If his reputation was at stake." Her father was good at keeping his secrets, but their mother wasn't. She spent so much of her time drinking, and drinking could give someone loose lips. Not only that, if she even whispered that abuse was going on inside the family, there would be a full investigation from the Ministry. They wouldn't dare let such rumors be started. So they'd make sure they weren't true, or in this case, were. The way Dusti had said it made it sound like she'd already threatened to expose her father if he tried to remove them from school, which was exactly what she'd done.
@al
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last online Apr 26, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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May 3, 2016 9:23:22 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on May 3, 2016 9:23:22 GMT -7
@dusti "And what do you guess?" he shrugged his shoulders lightly. it was all stuff that he was just guessing on. "you're afraid of him, of him hurting rusti hurting rusti" he'd picked that much up. she was so protective of her sister that it was kind of a hard one to miss if you knew what to look for in a person and he knew what to look for in her. "he's hurt you, you hate being at home" he didn't know how on the mark he was but he figured that he was going to cop a mouthful for hazarding a guess. not even because he was wrong but because she was in that sort of mood and he understood it. he knew all too well the feeling of being trapped and needing a way out.
"I don't think even the Headmaster can stop my father when his mind is made up. With the right... persuasion though he might hesitate. If his reputation was at stake." he frowned as he listened to her. neville might be able to do something if he thought that the flint kids were in trouble. after all he'd done it for the lestrange family. "then we'll find something on him that'll make him change his mind." he said, trying to let her know that he was going to try and help her with this. he didn't want her to be pulled out of school, not after everything that had happened.
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last online Apr 26, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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May 4, 2016 21:24:14 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on May 4, 2016 21:24:14 GMT -7
"You're afraid of him."
Dusti's eyes widened, Albus' words cutting far deeper then they should. "I'm not afraid of him!" She snapped, almost panicked. She couldn't admit it. Couldn't admit that deep down her father terrified her. Because it meant she was just as weak as he thought she was. Dusti took a step away from Albus, so his hand was no long on her shoulder. "I'm not." She repeated softly as she ran her fingers through her hair. "And I wont let him hurt Rusti. There was clear resolve there. Rusti was still sweet, and innocent. Her parents hadn't hardened her heart against the world. Dusti had to protect that. She looked away from him.
Albus didn't stop there. He continued, saying that her father hurt her, and that she hated being at home. She bit her lip, and finally dared to look back at him. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Knowing she was going to tell him. Maybe not everything, but more then she'd ever wanted to. Because while she could shut out the world, she'd never been able to shut out Albus. "I don't hate being home. It terrifies me. Because home isn't safe. Home is where I hide Rusti in a closet when my mother comes home drunk, or when my father is in a particularly aggressive mood. Where the slightest misstep can lead to-" She stopped. Her hand had moved to the back of her neck as she spoke to rest against the scars. Taking a deep breath she looked away once more. "I didn't even know there was something wrong with my parents until first year. I didn't know that it wasn't normal to live in a constant state of fear and pain. I hate them. I hate being associated with them. I hate being called Flint, like it's supposed to be some sort of compliment."
Dusti didn't open up like this. Ever.
@al
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last online Apr 26, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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May 6, 2016 8:18:17 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on May 6, 2016 8:18:17 GMT -7
@dusti "I'm not afraid of him!" "I'm not." "And I wont let him hurt Rusti." "I don't hate being home. It terrifies me. Because home isn't safe. Home is where I hide Rusti in a closet when my mother comes home drunk, or when my father is in a particularly aggressive mood. Where the slightest misstep can lead to-" "I didn't even know there was something wrong with my parents until first year. I didn't know that it wasn't normal to live in a constant state of fear and pain. I hate them. I hate being associated with them. I hate being called Flint, like it's supposed to be some sort of compliment." he listened and tried to keep what he was feeling from showing on his face. the anger, the hurt he was feeling for her (he knew she would hate that particularly) the disbelief that anyone could grow up thinking that sort of life was normal. though he would admit it explained a lot about her and her siblings acted. he kept his eyes on her as she finished speaking and he was almost at a loss for words. he didn't step forward, he didn't move toward her because he was sure that was the opposite of what she wanted right now.
"so change the meaning of your name" he said simply, softly to her as he found her eyes. he didn't go on about how horrible it was that she had grown up like that. he would if someone went on and on about something terrible in his life. "don't let him do it anymore. i know it's easy to say but i'll help you dusti. i'll help you find more help." he took a step forward then but stopped himself after just the one, he didn't want to crowd her. she knew he'd do anything he could for her, they had a connection and they'd had it from the first day they'd met and it wasn't going away any time soon and he didn't want to loose her to her father. or anyone else that might try to hurt her.
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last online Apr 26, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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May 8, 2016 19:02:42 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on May 8, 2016 19:02:42 GMT -7
Dusti saw each and every emotion Albus was feeling. He was good at hiding it, but reading people was a trait her parents had forced her to develop. That, and she'd know Albus for so long, and so well, that she could read him like a book. "Now do you get why my family's different..?" She whispered. She didn't expect an answer. But at least he knew now. He might have suspected some of it, but he'd obviously been surprised by her admittance. And even then he'd only gotten a brief confession. He didn't know what her parents had done.
Her eyes widened when he finally spoke, telling her to change the meaning of her name. He made it sound so.... so easy. Was it that easy? She'd spent her whole life defying her parents. Destroying. When she should have been changing. She bit her lip, and finally broke his gaze to look away. She only looked away for a moment though, before turning back to him. "It's not just my father though. How can I... How do I protect Rusti and River from both of them?" A question which she'd never found an answer to. And now that Raleigh was graduating, she didn't know if she could count on his protecting River as much as he had previously. "What can we do..?" He'd taken a step closer. But this time, Dusti didn't move away. Nor did she stand her ground. She matched that single step, and leaned forward to rest her forhead on his shoulder. She wasn't big on physical contact, as Albus knew, so the small act was surprising.
@al
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