Better Together (DARINA)

[Deleted]

At her... joke? Yes, joke, about 'other boys' Dan just narrowed his eyes, shook his head, and clicked his tongue against the top of his mouth. "Mhmmm," he mused right back. Honestly, he wouldn't be surprised if tons of guys were after her affections. It was clear just by looking at her that she was beautiful, confident, talented... granted, he hoped few knew how much of a goofball she really was. He felt pretty proud of being a part of that.

Then she put down her last card and his jaw dropped before he tossed his cards onto the couch, "wow. That was in record time," he said, chuckling. Then she made sure he knew she wasn't cheating and he held his hands up in surrender for accusing her. He grabbed some popcorn of his own as she did, then she asked what she won. He grinned, leaning toward her once he was finished chewing, and cocked his head to the side, "depends... what do you want?" he asked slowly. Now that was a dangerous game.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina smiled and gave him a peck on the cheek. “Don’t worry Hoh, you’re the only one I want,” she said softly as she straightened. She reached over and grabbed her water, taking another gulp, looking down at the cards in the pile. She liked winning games, and she loved getting rewarded for winning. She raised an eyebrow as he didn’t answer her question directly, but with another question. She automatically leaned in so her forehead was against his. “Mmm, I could think of a few things that I want,” she whispered, then closed the distance between them, her lips finding his again. She didn’t try to break away, not for a few minutes, until she needed air. With a small smile she gave him a little shrug. “I’ll take that...for now,” she teased, adjusting herself so she was leaning against his side. She looked over at the other board games, then back to him. “So, another round of Rina kicking Dan’s butt at Uno, or shall we move to a different game I can win at?” she asked him.

@daniel

[Deleted]

He wasn't expecting to turn completely red and feel that incredible warmth in his cheeks when she said that. That he was the only one she wanted and kissed his cheek. He didn't respond verbally, though, sure that his blush would be enough. Then, in talk of reward, she leaned forward and he leaned in to meet her. At her whispered words, he smirked, shaking his head just slightly before their lips met again. He was quite ready to just toss the games aside and keep kissing until the end of time but, sadly, they needed that stupid breathing thing. She pulled away, saying she'd take that for now and he kept his eyes closed for another second in hope before she leaned against him. He opened his eyes and looked over at her, "hmmm... I mean, maybe we should skip the Uno for now. Instead," he pulled out his wand out and summoned the next game over, "how about this one?"

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina laughed a little at Dan's blush; she hadn't been expecting him to go that red at her proclamation, but he was just so dang cute when he blushed.  Mr. Apathy had feelings after all.  She could tell, even without the ability to feel other peoples' emotions, that Dan did not want to stop kissing when she pulled away; she didn't either, but there was that little agreement to take things slow.  Irina understood that being with an empath wouldn't be as simple when it came to the physical part of their relationship, but sometimes when she was kissing him she'd like nothing more than to just tear his shirt off.  It was difficult sometimes, like right now when they were alone with nobody to disturb them, so she had to pull back, even if it meant being a bit of a tease.


She studied the boardgame in front of them, her chin gently resting on Dan's shoulder.  "The Game of Life?" she asked questioningly.  "Is it a board game that determines your path in life were you a Muggle?" she guessed.  It sounded interesting at the very least, though she wondered exactly how much of this 'life' was decided on the board game.


@daniel

[Deleted]

As glad as Dan was that they were taking things slow, that didn't make it any easier. Especially now that they were all alone and had grown so close emotionally, even though they hadn't even been together that long... but it felt like longer.

Dan nodded as she named the game in his hands. He started to open it, unfolding it on the table in front of them, "well, it's like... yeah, you pretend it's a muggle life. Here is where you start," proceeded to explain how the game worked and soon they were ready to play. "You spin the dial first," he suggested,, gesturing to it and leaning forward toward the board.

Irina Rose Krum
(hehehehe cheated)

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina cocked her head to one side, her hair falling over her shoulders. She absent-mindedly started twisting a piece of it between her fingers.  "I'll take the blue car," she said, sticking a tiny pink...figurine thing in the car where the drivers' seat was located, or at least where she assumed it would go.  "So...college versus career....I think perhaps I will go the college route, since you said that gave better Muggle career opportunities."  She reached down and spun the wheel.  Well, at least she attempted to.  "Why...is this not working?" she asked, sounding a little frustrated.  She tried spinning it the other way, and looked a bit sheepish as it spun flawlessly.  "Oh..." she said, giving an embarrassed giggle.  She saw she had landed on the '5' and went five spaces.  "So I get a 'life' tile for final examinations," she said, reading the tile she had landed on.  


She looked up at Dan while he was taking his turn.  "What sort of Muggle things did your Dad do with you growing up?" she asked, suddenly curious about his father, who she knew was a famous...soccer?  football?  Athlete, let's go with that.


@daniel

[Deleted]

Daniel tried to stifle is laugh when she spun it the wrong way, but failed miserably, so it came out as a sort of sputter of sorts. His eyes widened and he looked up at her. "Well, the college track is a good choice, yes. But I'm a rebel so," he didn't take the college track and spun the dial, landing on a '6' and going to the next spot. "Well, it seems I'm ready to take a job," he said with a grin. Then she asked what he did with his dad growing up and Dan shrugged, looking at the job cards as he answered. "Well, we played a lot of football, of course, since that's what he plays. It's a muggle game. It's called soccer in some places, though," he chose the 'Doctor' Card and put the others back.

Looking back up at her, he went on, "your turn. But yeah, I guess my dad and I didn't spend a ton of time together. I dunno," he shrugged. He had been so attached to Louisa as a kid that his parents didn't really need to entertain him.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina narrowed her eyes at Dan’s stifled laugh, and stuck her tongue out at him. “Yes, very rebellious not going to college,” she teased, laughing at him a little. She scooted over as he picked up his career card and leaned over his shoulder, her dark hair falling in front of her face. “Doctor?” she asked, sounding confused. She studied the card, deciphering the picture. “Oh...those Muggle excuses for Healers?” she said with realization. She remembered how good at Healing Nikolai was; she wished he’d admit it out loud that it was what he wanted to be instead of the Quidditch player his parents wanted him to be.

She sat back and spun the wheel. “Nine!” she exclaimed, and moved her car to the STOP sign where she had to pick a Career. “Lawyer...okay that I know what it is because it’s the same title in our world,” she said, feeling proud of herself. Studying the boards’ pieces, she looked up, a small smirk playing at her lips. “I have an idea; how about instead of paying $20,000 for...home repairs, or winning $10,000 in the lottery, how about we trade facts about each other? Something perhaps we wouldn’t know, or remember about each other,” she suggested, raising an eyebrow to see if he’d take up the challenge.

@daniel

[Deleted]

Dan laughed as she stuck her tongue out at him. He leaned toward her to show her is 'doctor' card when she came over to see it. "Yeah, but this is just like a dental hygienist or something since I didn't go to college," not that dental hygienists didn't go to college but... eh, maybe he grabbed a card from the wrong pile. Whatever. "Yes, they are healers, not an excuse," she chuckled softly. "The muggles need health too."

He smiled as she spun a '9' and watched her choose a career. He nodded at her choice. Then she made the game a little more interesting, changing the prizes from money to information. He raised an eyebrow, "interesting... you've got a deal," he said, leaning forward again to spin the wheel for his turn, eyes still on her.

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina looked at him, slightly confused by his explanation. “I will take your word for it,” she said with a small giggle. She had no idea what he was talking about, dental hygienist, what in Merlins’ name was that? “Muggles do need health but why do they have to have so many different people for different things? Healers can do it all,” she pointed out reasonably, in her opinion at least.

She watched as he spun the wheel while still watching her, and she straightened up. “Good,” she simply said. She saw what he rolled and waited for his car thing to get to the correct spot. Seeing that he would have won money through something called a trust fund, she cleared her throat. “Well, let me see. You know how I’m terrified of bats, and the reason for that is because I fell down a cave shaft when I was nine. It just happened to be home to a swarm of bats, who obviously got scared by sudden appearance and proceeded to dive bomb me in attempts to get out of the cave. My dad came and got me but it took an hour to get me back out, and I was scarred for life,” she admitted, shuddering lightly at the memory. She did not like thinking about that day. She spun the wheel and landed on a “3”. Making a face, she went three spots and saw that now she won some money through the lottery. “Your turn,” she declared with a triumphant smirk.

@daniel

[Deleted]

Dan chuckled back, a bit sorry he had confused her. He shook his head at her question, ”but they still have specialties, Ri.” His voice was patient and soft, but in reality he was kind of annoyed at himself for choosing a game that would warrant so much confusion and questions from her. Still, he loved this game and her, so.

He landed on a spot that would warrant information from her and he looked up expectantly, raising both eyebrows for a moment. She explained the situation with the bats and he leaned forward, placing a hand softly on her knee, ”I’m sorry about that, Ri... glad your dad was there. No more bat infested places for you,” he promised.

Then it was his turn to talk and he cleared his throat, pursing his lips for a moment in thought. ”I don’t have that many secrets you don’t already know, Ri,” he admitted, slouching his shoulders a little. ”I uh... like listening to song lyrics. Sometimes I even consider what would make them better or how they apply to my life,” he said slowly. ”Is that good enough?”

Irina Rose Krum

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina’s face fell a little; she could tell Dan was getting a little annoyed with the confusion. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to keep asking stupid questions,” she said a little meekly. She cast her eyes down to the board, not saying anything until he put his hand on her knee. She gave a small smile. “I have to face my fears eventually, especially if I’m going to be an effective Cursebreaker,” she said, half shrugging and not quite meeting his gaze.

She listened quietly as he explained how he liked to listen to song lyrics; she did feel better when he said that she knew most of his secrets. “What kind of songs?” she asked him curiously. She wanted to leave the game be for a few minutes; she saw his car was dangerously close to the ‘marriage’s top and it was starting to make her heart race. She knew she needed to give herself time for that spot, so she finally raised her eyes to meet his.


@daniel

[Deleted]

Dan sighed at her words. Of course he made her feel bad, he was an expert that. ”They’re not stupid,” he said slowly, ”ask away,” he encouraged with a small smile. ”Maybe just not so many in a row...

He nodded at her next words, ”well, you never have to face them alone, how about that?” he suggested softly. It was a touchy subject, obviously, but he wanted to let her know that he meant what she said. That she didn’t have to do anything alone, really.
Then she asked what kind of songs he liked to listen to the lyrics to and he shrugged, ”all kinds, Ri. Just whatever's playing... I guess.”

Irina Rose Krum
(these two are confusing me hahah I think I’m just tired :PPP BUT WE PRESS ON )

[Irina Rose Krum]

Irina sat back; perhaps this facts idea was a dumb one. Without speaking, she took half of the money she’d ‘won’ and then got up to busy herself with the popcorn machine. It had grown cold while they had been playing, so it would take a little while to warm back up. She paced while she waited, not even meaning to. She wondered why she’d decided to wear a dress; she wished she had thought to wear leggings and a sweater instead of being superficial. She noticed a red and white polka dotted fuzzy blanket had appeared just as she was thinking she wanted one, and she smiled softly. At least the Room of Requirement could read her mind.

She took her time as the popcorn popped merrily; she needed to turn around the weird mood that had overtaken her just now. She picked up the blanket and wrapped herself in a fuzzy cocoon and immediately felt better. Sometimes, that was all it took. She scooted her way back and decided to sit in the squishy armchair next to the couch. “Your turn,” she told him, popping a few pieces in her mouth. She curled her legs under herself and settled in with the blanket.

@daniel

[Deleted]

Dan sighed as she got up, knowing that he had been making a fool out of himself and made her upset. He waited, staying right where he was and keeping his eyes softly watching her as she paced, made popcorn, and wrapped herself in a blanket. When she came back, she sat on the chair instead of beside him and his shoulders slouched even more. She said it was his turn and he nodded, smiling softly before turning to spin the wheel. He didn’t win any ‘money’ or ‘information’ this time, though. ”Look, I got married,” he said flatly, holding up the little pink person that signified the ‘wife’ before putting it into the passenger seat of his car. ”Maybe I should let her drive. What do you think?”

Irina Rose Krum