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last online May 19, 2024 7:48:11 GMT -7
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Feb 11, 2017 21:21:49 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2017 21:21:49 GMT -7
The new year had come and gone, which meant that now, the school's halls were filled with people who thought that somehow this year was going to be different and they were actually going to go through with whatever stupid resolution they had thought up this time. Normally Viola didn't mind optimism, but there was a different between optimism and lying to yourself, and New Year's resolutions fell into the latter category nearly one hundred percent of the time. They were trying to avoid people as much as possible, and if that meant hanging out suspiciously close to the Hogwarts headmaster's office, so be it. It wasn't like they had anything to be afraid of - they weren't breaking any rules by just hanging around, and the kind of people who were scared by their headmaster weren't the kind of people that Viola wanted to be around. Viola was busy cleaning beneath their fingernails while mentally reviewing for the Charms exam that was probably going to be coming sometime soon. They weren't particularly worried about the exam, or about a resolution, or about anything, really, and it showed. Viola was just there, existing, and doing a pretty damn fine job of it.
@maria
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last online May 19, 2024 7:48:11 GMT -7
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Feb 11, 2017 22:39:36 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2017 22:39:36 GMT -7
Ah, the start of the second term. Those students that had gone home for the holiday had returned, the halls of Hogwarts once again full. Maria didn't really care much. It did mean one thing though. That the next task was only a month away. Only a month until Elias would once again have to face a challenge, and she'd be unable to help him in any way. Maria refused to let herself think to much about that, because if she did she'd only make herself upset or worried for no reason. She shouldn't have to worry about Elias. Nothing too bad would happen, and he could look after himself. Still, as Maria wandered the halls of Hogwarts aimless she touched the bracelet on her left wrist. It grew warm every time Elias was in trouble. It'd been his Christmas present to her, one he knew she'd appreciate. At least now she knew her cousin was safe. It hadn't grown warm once so far.
She'd just rounded a corner when she spotted a familiar face heading in the direction she'd just come from. Immediately Maria stopped fiddling with the bracelet and found herself smiling. "Viola." Maria always sounded so... happy when she saw her classmate. She couldn't help it. Viola made life interesting.
@viola
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last online May 19, 2024 7:48:11 GMT -7
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Feb 11, 2017 22:51:43 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2017 22:51:43 GMT -7
Of all the people in Hogwarts, there were few that Viola recognized and even fewer that they enjoyed seeing. As much as they wished it wasn’t true, Viola did enjoy seeing Maria. Maria frustrated them, but as they had found the night of the Yule Ball, there was an attraction there that demanded to be felt. Viola didn’t ignore their feelings, because normally those feelings ended up being right. And since there was attraction, and Maria wasn’t exactly known for her commitment to people, Viola knew that they had to make the first move. So, instead of responding to Maria’s greeting with any normal pleasantry, Viola began with a stunner. “You’re my girlfriend now.” Maybe that came on a little too strong, but somehow, Viola couldn’t imagine that Maria would be above singing their eyebrows off if she didn’t agree with the idea. And since the normal pattern of their relationship had been Viola ducking, weaving, and bobbing their way into Maria’s affections, maybe the part-Veela would enjoy the chance to be the one to play hard to get. It was far from a fool-proof plan, but Viola was going to hope that the calculated risk was going to pay off.
@maria
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last online May 19, 2024 7:48:11 GMT -7
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Feb 11, 2017 23:22:11 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2017 23:22:11 GMT -7
“You’re my girlfriend now.”
Well that wasn't how Maria expected this encounter to go. This wasn't the first time Maria had been asked to be someone's girlfriend. Quite the opposite. She heard the request quite often. But Viola hadn't said it as a question or request. It was a fact. A statement. So forward and blunt that Maria, in all her fiery confidence was left standing there, not moving as she processed the bold statement, a stunned expression on her face. Shocking Maria this thoroughly was a feat so impossible that Viola deserved a medal for their achievement.
For several seconds, Maria just stood there, her mind trying to catch up with what had just happened. How did she even respond to such a statement? Viola hadn't left it open for debate. Oh, Maria could debate it, could just laugh it off or respond like she always did when someone asked her to be their girlfriend. But this was Viola. Viola, who challenged Maria in ways she never thought possible. Viola, who Maria wanted nothing more than to please. Viola, who Maria was absolutely desperate for attention from. Viola, who Maria couldn't say no to.
"I am?"
@viola
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last online May 19, 2024 7:48:11 GMT -7
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Feb 12, 2017 8:35:05 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2017 8:35:05 GMT -7
However shocked Maria was, Viola could assure her that they were definitely more shocked, because Maria actually appeared to be considering the idea. They had hoped, of course, but this was the best-case scenario that they had come up with. Maria asked if she was their girlfriend, and Viola nodded once, firmly. “You can say no, but I don’t think you want to.” Viola was coming really aggressive, even to their own ears, and they wondered if they ought to back off a little. Having Maria want them for someone who wasn’t them didn’t sound appealing, and most of the time, they weren’t this pushy, because they weren’t ever able to bring themself to care. Stupid Maria. “And assuming you aren’t going to say no, and you are my girlfriend, I’d like to learn a little more about the tragic past that brought us together.” Viola was certain that your past influenced your present and your future, and honestly, they were just curious as to why Maria had become the way she was. Viola couldn’t imagine what series of events would create someone as closed off emotionally but open in other ways as Maria was. And once they knew about Maria, maybe Viola would be able to bring themself to reciprocate.
@maria
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last online May 19, 2024 7:48:11 GMT -7
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Feb 12, 2017 12:19:49 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2017 12:19:49 GMT -7
Maria's eyebrows raised at that firm response. Viola was so sure, an almost unwavering conviction. Of course she could say no, Maria knew that. But Viola was correct in assuming that she didn't want to. They'd been playing this game of cat and mouse for months and Maria had almost begun to wonder if it would always be this way. If Viola would always reject her advances. But now that Viola was making their own advance? Maria would be an idiot to decline. Sure, being told to be their girlfriend hadn't been the advance Maria expected, but an advance was an advance. "What would being your girlfriend entail?" Maria slowly answered, her head tilting to the side in curiosity with a smile playing at the corners of her lips.
The smile disappeared though when Viola continued to speak. About wanting to know about Maria's past. Maria had shared very little about her past with Viola but Maria had never gone out of her way to hide the fact that it was a 'tragic past'. To make matters even worse Maria didn't like telling Viola no. In fact, quite the opposite. Viola was always the nay sayer, leaving it up to Maria to pursue. To relentlessly beg for even a moment of Viola's attention. Willing to do anything to get the answer she so desperately wanted. And Viola knew it. Quite the conflict. Keep her secrets and possible lose Viola, or Lose her secrets and keep Viola. Why wasn't there an option to keep both to herself? "What do you want to know about it..?" Maria found herself quietly asking, her voice barely above a whisper as she stared quite intensely into Viola's eyes. It was silent agreement. Why she was agreeing.. Maria didn't know. But if Viola wanted answers, they'd better ask before Maria backed out.
@viola
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last online May 19, 2024 7:48:11 GMT -7
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Feb 12, 2017 13:19:48 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2017 13:19:48 GMT -7
Maria wasn’t objecting, but she hadn’t yet agreed either, so Viola wasn’t going to consider themself out of the woods. Maria asked what being their girlfriend entailed, and Viola hesitated. In an ideal world, Maria would be committed to Viola, and just Viola, but they felt selfish giving her that ultimatum, especially since there was someone else that they wanted to pursue romantically. Not giving Maria the same freedom would be hypocritical. “Tell me before you get involved with or sleep with someone. In addition to, you know, couple-y stuff.” Even if they could stop Maria, Viola would feel better knowing where she had been. Maria was already very good at the kissing part of relationships, but Viola was hoping that having a partner would make her better on the other fronts, like sharing an emotional space and doing mushy stuff like holding hands. The again, Viola wasn’t much good at the mushy stuff, so maybe they wouldn’t help Maria in that way.
Now that the opportunity for answers was right in front of them, Viola didn’t know what to ask. ‘Tell me your whole life story’ seemed a little excessive, especially since it was probably extremely tragic and not at all easy to say or stomach all in one sitting. All Viola knew about Maria’s history was that she had lived in Brazil until she was seven, and she was somehow related to Elias – presumably through his mother. That was a good of a place as any to start. “Why did you leave Brazil?” There had to be a reason – people didn’t just up and leave their home for nothing. Even if the reason was a small as needing a new job or something, it would show Viola something about their new girlfriend.
@maria
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last online May 19, 2024 7:48:11 GMT -7
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Feb 12, 2017 13:50:05 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2017 13:50:05 GMT -7
Maria took a long moment to consider the offer. Viola wasn't telling Maria she had to stop her usual antics. Simply... tell them before. Why Viola was willing to make such an agreement made little to no sense to Maria, but she'd be a fool to turn it down. Finally Maria nodded. "Okay." was her answer, agreeing. Maria had never done the whole 'couple' thing. Ever. Mostly because that meant being exclusively with one person. But if she only had to tell Viola before... Well, she'd be willing t give it a try.
Of course that was the question Viola asked. Why she left Brazil. Viola had gone right for Maria's biggest secret, not holding back at all. Considering what Viola knew about Maria though, it was the first logical question. Maria didn't respond immediately. Instead, she leaned against the wall, folding her arms across her chest and glancing about to make sure there wasn't anyone else down this particular hall. The last thing she wanted was someone overhearing. "My parents died, and my next of kin lived in Sweden." Was her simple answer once she was sure they were alone. There was obviously more to the story, but that hadn't been Viola's question. They'd just asked why she left, not what happened.
@viola
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last online May 19, 2024 7:48:11 GMT -7
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Feb 12, 2017 15:05:46 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2017 15:05:46 GMT -7
Maria agreed, and that was the end of that. No, actually not the end – the beginning. It was the beginning of a relationship, which was sure to be about seven different kinds of scary and twice that many kinds of amazing. Viola didn’t want to push things too much, but they couldn’t help but reach over and take Maria’s hand. Their girlfriend’s hand. Viola squeezed it once, and then released it, choosing to focus instead on what Maria was going to say.
After Viola’s question was asked, Maria hesitated for quite a while. It was a good thing they had chosen an empty hallway, Viola thought, because that was one of the things that Maria appeared to look at before she answered the question. Maria said that her parents had died, and that she had moved to Sweden as a result. From there, there were two paths that Viola could take: asking about how her parents died, or asking about the next of kin. The latter seemed to be much safer, since it had a lower risk of asking Maria to relive traumatic memories or share things she’d rather not share. “Who was your next of kin?” Her aunt, maybe? Viola didn’t think that Elias’s mother was Swedish, but it would explain why the two of them were so close.
@maria
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last online May 19, 2024 7:48:11 GMT -7
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Feb 12, 2017 16:39:19 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2017 16:39:19 GMT -7
Well, now that Maria had agreed, it didn't seem like either of them really needed to discuss it further. It'd definitely be... interesting. Getting used to being with someone. Sure, Viola had left it pretty open, but still. Difficult. But not necessarily bad. It seemed the new definition to their relationship was enough to finally bring Viola to make physical contact first. Usually Maria was the one to do that, forcing the contact onto Viola, whether they wanted it or not. Maria would have done more, probably slip an arm around Viola's waist when they took her hand, squeezed it, and then let go just to retain the contact but decided against it. Considering the current topic, it was probably for the best.
Against the wall, Maria unfolded her arms and her fingers through her hair, puling the dark locks over one shoulder and twirling a strand between her fingers. "My grandparents." She answered. "On my father's side." She added a moment later, as if only remembering then that most people had two sets of Grandparents. Maria didn't actually know anything about her mother's side of the family. She'd never had any contact with the Veelas, didn't even know where to look or if they even knew about her existence.
@viola
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last online May 19, 2024 7:48:11 GMT -7
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Feb 12, 2017 16:57:52 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2017 16:57:52 GMT -7
Viola watched carefully as Maria combed her fingers through her hair. If it was anyone else, Viola might have said she looked nervous, but Maria didn’t get nervous. Viola had seen her angry, but not nervous. Then again, there was a first time for everything, and Viola didn’t want to mull over what emotion Maria was feeling when they could be listening to what their girlfriend was actually saying. Maria’s next of kin were her grandparents? How Elias and his family fit into this whole situation was still a little hazy for Viola, but they didn’t want to push any more than they already had. “If you want to tell me more, you can.” Viola offered. “But I can also tell you more about me.” When they had played this game before, Maria had wanted to ask a question for every one that she answered. While they hadn’t yet gotten to the meat of Maria’s past, if her body language was anything to go by, it was more than she was comfortable sharing, and maybe Viola opening up would help even the playing field a little. They didn’t have any secrets on a level comparable to Maria’s, but Viola also had never had anyone who bothered to ask enough questions to find out their past.
@maria
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last online May 19, 2024 7:48:11 GMT -7
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Feb 12, 2017 17:35:09 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2017 17:35:09 GMT -7
Telling someone about her past, even just the little she'd shared, was.... strange. Maria had told Elias everything months ago, but that didn't mean she'd suddenly become comfortable sharing her past. It was probably for that reason that Maria wasn't sharing the whole story from start to finish, just sharing what Viola wanted to know specifically. Though she knew some of the details could end up muddled. There was still that strong desire to keep her secrets. To refuse to share anything she didn't have to with Viola. But then there was that much smaller, but vocal as hell part of her that wanted nothing more than to draw closer and closer to Viola, by whatever means necessary. And if those means meant giving up her secrets? Well.... You could now see why Maria was so conflicted.
To her surprise, Viola didn't push with another question, instead just saying she could tell her more if she wanted. Maria lightly bit her bottom lip. Did she want to tell Viola more? She was still trying to decide that when Viola offered to tell her more about them. Maria stopped chewing on her bottom lip.... and smiled. "I haven't found that book yet, so I'd still like to know your middle name." Of course that was what Maria chose. That one tidbit of information Viola hadn't offered before but hinted at. It was silly that Maria wanted to know that. But she did. "They... didn't just die, Viola." Maria found herself saying before she could stop herself. She didn't mean her Grandparents, obviously. "My mother's death was an accident... But not my father. He chose it." Chose it. Maria didn't need to say exactly what that meant.
@viola
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last online May 19, 2024 7:48:11 GMT -7
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Feb 12, 2017 17:50:42 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2017 17:50:42 GMT -7
When Maria smiled at them, Viola couldn’t help but smile back. For this moment, they weren’t thinking about push and pull, what would keep Maria interested in them – they were thinking about the person in front of them, and how she managed to infuriate her and infatuate her at the same time. A soft laugh escaped Viola’s lips when Maria asked them what their middle name was. “Fiyero. F – I – Y – E – R – O.” They said, spelling out since it was far from a typical name, and if Maria wanted to write it down somewhere, Viola wanted it to be at least spelled correctly. Viola was going to offer more information about their name – about their mother, really, who had given them their name – when Maria said something. They didn’t just die. Her parents didn’t just…die? Viola already felt her heartstrings being plucked uncomfortably, but when Maria said that her father had chosen death, had committed suicide, Viola couldn’t help themself. They wrapped their arms around Maria, pulling her tight against them. “I’m sorry.” It wasn’t their fault, Viola knew, but they had struggled for years when their mother had left, and at least their mom was still alive. “You don’t deserve that.” Because if there was one thing that Viola knew, it was that sometimes, people deluded themselves into thinking that they somehow got what was coming to them, and they didn’t deserve to be happy. Maybe Maria was stand-offish and overly sexual, but she was a human, and she deserved happiness.
@maria
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last online May 19, 2024 7:48:11 GMT -7
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Feb 12, 2017 18:28:29 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2017 18:28:29 GMT -7
Fiyero. That was the elusive middle name. It was useless information but hearing Viola finally say it made Maria smiled a little wider. Partially because Viola had been holding the information over Maria since the start of the year, but also because it meant... Well progress. As if this whole conversation wasn't proof enough of that progress.
Maria didn't feel much emotionally now a days about her parents death. She'd... not gotten over it, but she'd grown cold to it. There was always that nagging question though. The one that she could never bring herself to answer, even though she was sure she knew it. Why had he chosen to leave her? Why had she been expendable? To her surprise, in that moment that Maria had been lost in those questions that should never be answered, Viola had stepped closer to pull her into a tight embrace. Maria didn't fight it, instead she leaned into it, taking a slow breath. "It's fine, Viola... I'm past it." It was almost as if her parents were the least of Maria's problems. As if it was such a fact of life, one of many occurrences in her life. As if it wasn't that devastating because there was plenty else for her to worry about. Obviously her parents' deaths was the only thing that made up Maria's 'tragic past'.
@viola
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last online May 19, 2024 7:48:11 GMT -7
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Feb 12, 2017 18:47:09 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Feb 12, 2017 18:47:09 GMT -7
Viola was pleased by the fact that Maria didn’t try to pull away from them. All of their interactions so far had felt sexual in nature, form their dance to the kiss and even, to an extent, the hand-holding, but there was something about being hugged that was inherently un-sexual. Maria insisted that she was fine and she was past it, but Viola didn’t buy it. “I don’t think that’s the sort of thing that you can get past.” They said gently. They didn’t want to tell Maria how she was supposed to feel, but they also didn’t want Maria repressing her emotions because she thought that Viola would judge her for it. “I know it’s not really the same, but my parents divorced when I was four. And my mom was never really around from then on out, and I know I still have a load of issues from that.” Sure, their issues didn’t involve sleeping around or setting people on fire, but considering how comparably worse Maria’s past was, it made sense that her resultant issues were comparably worse, too. “I get not wanting to talk about it. But I want you to know I’m here.” They were straying dangerously into the overly-romantic, but they were Maria’s partner, so it was okay now, right? In any case, Viola didn’t want this to be the end of their learning about Maria and her past.
@maria
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