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last online May 21, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Jul 4, 2017 14:41:39 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2017 14:41:39 GMT -7
Dustin had to focus in order to keep himself form flinching when Kinsey said that someday, he would find someone who would be able to say no to his face. That had already happened. Someone had already said no. But he still wasn’t telling anyone about Vi, so there was no way that Kinsey could have known about that. Dustin had to remind himself that Kinsey was just teasing, and he forced a smile so that she wouldn’t think that anything was off. His younger sister asked why being an adult was annoying, and Dustin hesitated before replying. “It’s just… there’s no such thing as a day off.” Even his vacation had turned out poorly. When something was going wrong, then Dustin couldn’t hide from it the way he could hide from missed homework assignments or people he didn’t like. Technically, he hadn’t been able to hide from those things, either, but now that he was older, Dustin knew that waiting would only make it worse, and he pushed himself to solve problems. He knew that he should be happy, because it meant that he was being a responsible person and everything, but it was still difficult to stare his problems in the face and not feel like he had an option about whether or not he wanted to solve them.
@kinsey
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last online May 21, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Jul 6, 2017 10:48:23 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2017 10:48:23 GMT -7
This was ... odd. All of a sudden Dustin didn't really seem happy anymore. He smiled after a few seconds, but he was close enough to her that she could tell it wasn't real. Of course, she had no idea why he was smiling and trying to make her think that he was alright, but she didn't want to force him to tell her what was wrong either. Obviously something about that comment put him off, so she'd simply steer herself away from comments like that. The only problem was, she didn't know what set him off ... was it that she was teasing about relationships? She had no idea, but Kinsey decided not to bring that up anymore. She didn't want to ruin this nice day with her brother. He mentioned that as an adult he didn't get days off and she cocked her head to the side. "What's today then? Or do you have to leave right after the Task to go to work or something?" Kinsey didn't know what he meant, but she wanted to help Dustin be happier. His mood seemed to diminish since he joined her and that definitely wasn't what she wanted. "I'm sorry, let's talk about something else," she said, spinning to face the screen when the crowd around them started mumbling. The durmstrang Champion was ... facing a troll? That did not seem like something she would like to do at all. Then again, Kinsey wasn't particularly the adventurous type. She grabbed Dustin's arm as she watched nervously. Sure, she was cheering for Anna, but she didn't want the others to get seriously hurt either.
@dustin
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last online May 21, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Jul 6, 2017 17:08:09 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2017 17:08:09 GMT -7
Kinsey didn’t comment about his reaction to her relationship comment, which must’ve meant that she believed what he was saying, or at least not wanted to talk about it. When she asked what was on his agenda for the day, immediately following it with a question about whether or not he had to go to work, Dustin shook his head. “I’d like to get to talk to Anna a little bit.” He admitted. “I’m not sure how possible that’s going to be.” If she did well in the task and was surrounded by tons of adoring fans, it could be difficult to get to her. If she lost, and people were leaving her alone, then it would be easier to get to her… but then their conversation would be a lot more awkward, because he’d have to apologize for calling her a loser when she was actually a loser. Kinsey suggested that they talk about something else, but instead of talking, turned her attention to the screen. It looked like the Durmstrang Champion was facing a… troll? Well, that was interesting. Kinsey grabbed onto his arm, and Dustin made a soft, soothing sound under his breath before cracking a joke. “Hey look, it’s Cara.” He teased, hoping that would make Kinsey a little more comfortable.
@kinsey
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last online May 21, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Jul 6, 2017 22:22:47 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2017 22:22:47 GMT -7
He mentioned wanting to talk to Anna and Kinsey cocked her head to the side. "I'm sure that's not totally impossible. Does she know you want to talk to her?" Her knowing might not make a difference if she was surrounded by people, but if Anna was as good a friend to Dustin as she seemed to be, she'd make the effort to meet with him. "You'll be able to talk with her," Kinsey said confidently, even though she had no idea whether or not it was true. "And if not ... you can spend the day with me!" She made an exaggeratedly excited face, assuming that Dustin would know she was teasing. The two of them might be very close, but she couldn't replace all his friends and she didn't want to. When she grabbed his arm, he tried to soothe her and then made a joke about Cara being the cave troll. Kinsey laughed, probably more than she should have, but considering the fights she and Cara got into lately ... it was funny. "You shouldn't have said that," she commented after she got her laughter under control. Then the boy defeated the troll and continued moving on. Kinsey turned back to her brother. "So what do you want to talk about now?" She asked brightly, watching him curiously.
@dustin
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last online May 21, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Jul 8, 2017 17:01:45 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2017 17:01:45 GMT -7
Kinsey said that talking to Anna wasn’t impossible, and Dustin shrugged. It really did come down to how well she did – and whether or not she wanted to see him. “Yes, she does.” Dustin answered when his sister asked if Anna knew he wanted to talk to her. “I sent her an owl.” He wasn’t sure whether or not Anna had gotten a chance to read the owl before the task, though, so it was possible that she’d have to walk back to the castle and her dormitory before seeing his letter – and that was if she didn’t just collapse into bed. Dustin could imagine that the tasks were physically exhausting. If there was anything that Dustin would want to do after going through that sort of thing, it was fall into bed and never climb out. Kinsey joked that he could spend the day with her if he couldn’t find Anna, and Dustin laughed. He was sure that his other sisters would have something to say if they found out he had watched the task with Kinsey and hung out with her for the rest of the day without even trying to find the rest of them. “It’s not like you’re going to tell her.” Dustin said with a roll of his eyes when Kinsey said he shouldn’t have insulted their sister. “Tell me about school.” Dustin said. He didn’t want to talk about his life anymore.
@kinsey
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last online May 21, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Jul 15, 2017 9:07:26 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2017 9:07:26 GMT -7
Kinsey smiled up at her older brother when he said that Anna knew he wanted to meet with her. If she knew, then why was he so worried about it? "I'm sure she'll come then. Anna doesn't seem like the kind of person to stand someone up, especially a friend." Not that Kinsey knew Anna particularly well, but the Gryffindor did seem quite nice, so Kins didn't see it as a problem. She grinned when he laughed at her joke about spending the day with her. As much as she'd like that to happen, it wasn't a realistic wish, so Kinsey was content with spending the task with him. She was just glad she was able to make him laugh. "Not unless I want her to kill me more than she already does," Kinsey agreed. Yeah, there was no way she'd ever tell Cara about that. It would likely only make things worse between them. He asked Kinsey to tell him about school and she glanced at the screen before looking at his brother. "There's not too much going on. I like all my classes and am doing quite well at them, despite the fact that Cara thinks I'm not studying enough," her expression darkened slightly as she remembered her latest fight with her sister. "I mean, I still eat when the Great Hall is pretty empty and enjoy spending time on my own, but I have a few good friends so I'm not alone." She paused a moment, not sure of what else she could say. "Do you have any questions about it?" Kinsey eventually asked with a shrug. Then she looked at the screen again, surprised to see that the Durmstrang boy was back. "Oooh look! It's Anna's turn!" Kinsey squealed a little, tapping her brother lightly on the shoulder as Anna's face came on the screen.
@dustin
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last online May 21, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Jul 18, 2017 13:16:08 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2017 13:16:08 GMT -7
Kinsey said that Anna didn’t seem like the kind to stand someone up, and Dustin grimaced. “There’s a first time for everything.” He said. And he honestly wouldn’t blame Anna if she were to stand him up, after the way he had acted. Dustin was only now beginning to realize just how childish it had bene, to poke her in a spot that was obviously sore. He wasn’t as much of a jokester as some, but one of the consequences of not being joking around all the time was that he wasn’t as good at others at knowing how far was too far. Dustin narrowed his eyes at Kinsey when she mentioned Cara wanting to kill her. “No one wants to kill anyone, Kins.” Dustin said. He resisted the urge to tell her to stop being overdramatic, because he really didn’t have any space to talk when it came to that sort of thing. But however much his sisters disagree, Dustin was going to keep on believing that they cared for each other as much as he cared for each of them. Kinsey answered his question about school, saying that there wasn’t much going on, and bringing up Cara once again. “You know that’s just how she is, Kinsey. Not everyone has to be a studying machine like her, but she thinks that they should be.” Dustin explained. Their sister wasn’t always the best at understanding that what worked for her wasn’t necessarily going to work for everyone else. Kinsey asked if he had any questions, and Dustin shook his head. Kinsey would tell him more when she was ready… and if she wouldn’t, then her owl definitely would. Kinsey said that Anna’s turn was starting, and Dustin turned his face to the screen, pausing the conversation momentarily so that he could watch his friend compete.
@kinsey
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last online May 21, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Jul 20, 2017 13:25:18 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2017 13:25:18 GMT -7
Dustin seemed convinced that Anna wasn't going to show and, quite honestly, Kinsey didn't understand why. If they were friends and he asked her to meet him somewhere, Kinsey couldn't see why she wouldn't show up, but she wasn't going to question Dustin about it anymore. He seemed rather touchy on the subject and she didn't want to ruin this chance to spend time with him, especially since she didn't get to see him often during the school year. He grew more serious at her comment about Cara killing her and then she shrugged. She didn't really mean it ... she was just referring to the fact that she and her sister didn't get along, which wasn't news to anyone. She nodded when he commented about Cara again."I know. It just gets under my skin sometimes." Rather, all the time, but Kinsey had no intention of spending all her time with Dustin talking about Cara. She started watching the screen, her eyes wide when it displayed Anna on a volcano. "I would not want to be in her shoes," she muttered softly, her attention still on the screen as the Gryffindor started moving through the arena. Kinsey tapped her foot nervously as she watched, mentally urging the girl and her diricawl to move faster.
@dustin
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last online May 21, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Jul 22, 2017 10:13:44 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 22, 2017 10:13:44 GMT -7
Kinsey said that she knew that Cara didn’t actually want to kill her, but Dustin wondered whether or not that was actually the truth, or if she was just trying to appease him. “People can only get under your skin if you let them.” He advised. Damn. That sounded like something that Yadiel would say – which was exactly why he couldn’t tell his captain that he had said it, or Yadi would tell him to go look in a mirror or something, because Dustin was definitely good at letting other people get under his skin. Like Evelyn. Or rather… Rocco. Dustin sighed. Yet another thing he had to keep from his sister. Kinsey said that he wouldn’t want to be in her shoes, and Dustin nodded slowly. Truthfully, he would have been first in line to sign up for the Triziward Tournament if it had happened last year, but he was grateful that his sisters seemed to be a little more mellow when it came to seeking glory and fame and everything. “Guess it’s a good thing you don’t have to be.” The Tournament wouldn’t happen again until long after Kinsey graduated, which meant that she had dodged a bullet, because no one would be pestering her all the time about whether or not she had entered if she didn't want to.
@kinsey
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last online May 21, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Jul 24, 2017 16:54:55 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2017 16:54:55 GMT -7
Dustin started giving Kinsey advice, and while she knew he was right, it was still a bit annoying. She hated being bossed around, which was all Cara ever did. Kinsey couldn't help feeling defensive of it now. She'd put up with it for years, after all. Still, she nodded at her brother. "I know, Kinsey admitted with a smile. She also knew that Dustin meant well, which was why he was telling her this. He sighed and Kinsey looked at her brother curiously, but he didn't seem to be in a talkative mood, which was a shame. She loved talking with him. She smiled, perhaps a little more than necessary, when he said it was a good thing that she didn't have to be in the Tournament. "Exactly," she responded, still mostly focused on the red-head in the arena. "She's doing pretty well, isn't she?" Kinsey asked, to stave off the silence.
@dustin
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last online May 21, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Jul 29, 2017 17:39:24 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 29, 2017 17:39:24 GMT -7
Dustin sensed from Kinsey’s tone that she’d rather if he didn’t dispense any more brotherly advice at the moment. That was fine by him, since he didn’t really have any more advice to give. He tried to stay out of the worst of his sister’s disagreements, only inserting himself when he was worried that they were going to do some long-term damage to their relationships. Letting Kinsey believe that Cara would harm her fell under that umbrella, as far as Dustin was concerned. Kinsey asked if Anna was doing well, and Dustin shrugged his shoulders. “I’m not really sure if I understand what well is in this case.” He admitted. She wasn’t dying, which was definitely a concern when it came to the Triwizard Tournament, but it wasn’t like Anna was keeping the volcano from exploding or something equally as impossible (and therefore equally as impressive). “Better than the Greyback boy.” Dustin said with a snicker.
@kinsey
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last online May 21, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Jul 31, 2017 9:28:31 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2017 9:28:31 GMT -7
Kinsey shrugged when her brother said he didn't know what qualified as "well". She thought for a moment. "At least she isn't getting injured like she did in the first task," she offered. "By this time in the first task, she'd already been attacked by acromantulas." Not that Kinsey enjoyed that. She didn't like to see others get attacked and injured and had been terrified for Anna when she watched the first task. Hopefully this one wouldn't get as bad. Kinsey laughed softly at Dustin's comment about the Durmstrang student and then grabbed her brother's arm again. "She's trapped," Kinsey whispered, even though she knew that Dustin could see that. However, in the next moment both Anna and her creature disappeared and then reappeared not far from the door. Kinsey watched, surprised when they ran to the door to the next arena and made it just in time. She offered a smile to Dustin. "That's one out of three," Kinsey commented.
@dustin
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last online May 21, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Aug 11, 2017 14:37:12 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2017 14:37:12 GMT -7
Kinsey offered that Anna might be doing better, objectively, because she wasn’t getting injured the way she had in the first task. “I don’t think that Acromantulas live in volcanos.” Dustin commented. He wasn’t an expert in magizoology, but it seemed a pretty good guess. Basically, he was trying to say that the only reason Anna hadn’t been attacked by the freakishly large spiders was because they weren’t around to begin with. In some ways, Dustin thought the volcano was the worse opponent. It was easy to battle something that you could see, but harder to fight against (or for) an object or an idea… which was part of the reason he found the whole blood supremacy argument so exhausting. Who could ever say that either side had won a battle like that? There would still be bigots in the world, they would just be better about hiding themselves. Like Vi had been. “I don’t need a play by play, Kins.” Dustin teased his sister as he watched Anna step into a bog. He had two good eyes and a very large screen at which to look at.
@kinsey
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last online May 21, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Aug 19, 2017 12:03:10 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2017 12:03:10 GMT -7
Dustin was focused on the task, which was probably a good thing because Kinsey couldn't help but roll her eyes at him. Of course acromantulas didn't live in volcanoes! No rational creature did. At least, there weren't any she knew of, but Kinsey wasn't good at magical creatures. Maybe there were one of two of those. She watched nervously as the Hogwarts champion went through her first arena. She started to glare when Dustin said that he didn't need a play by play, but then she realized that he was joking. She laughed. "Sorry Dus, guess I didn't realize how nervous I am about her," she confessed. "You can't blame me though, right?" she made a face, trying to get a laugh out of him.
@dustin
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last online May 21, 2024 7:06:10 GMT -7
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Aug 19, 2017 16:20:08 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 19, 2017 16:20:08 GMT -7
Dustin smiled a little at Kinsey’s laugh. She was obviously more wound up about the task than she had thought she would be – and her next words just confirmed his assumption. “Worrying doesn’t change anything, Kins.” Dustin said, squeezing his sister closer to him for a moment. “Anna already knows that we’re on her side. Saying that we’re worried about her just says that we doubt her skills.” Dustin wasn’t sure why he was preaching about it, since he was worried, too (and about more things than just the task) but he figured that this was a good big brother moment. “I don’t blame you, but it seems kind of illogical, and I thought that was the sort of thing you Ravenclaws didn’t like.” He teased. Having his sisters sorted into different houses than him had made Dustin a lot more aware of what other houses valued, and Dustin liked to think it gave him a more well-rounded view of the world, too.
@kinsey
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