Better When I'm With You (Dominic)

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Kinsey was planning on coming to the winter festival with Riley in a few days, but she found herself drawn to the place anyway. Before this year, she'd been so easily overcome by all the intentions in big crowds that she hadn't dared come to something like this unless she was with someone. Things were different now. Kinsey was practicing focusing on her own intentions, or on specific people whose intentions were very positive. It made things like this event so much easier, though at the same time it was often hard for her to stay focused and not lose control. 

She wandered through the crowd, aimlessly looking at some of the items in the booths. At the moment, her gift was focused on a girl one booth over, who was admiring a beautiful necklace and asking her mom to get it for her. The girl was so happy and light that it was easy for Kinsey to focus on her and enjoy what she was doing herself. She picked up a scarf, thinking that the color was just right for her house. Maybe she'd get it. She tried the thing on, wrapping it around her neck and looking into a nearby mirror, obviously placed where it was so people like her could see what they really thought of the merchandise. 

@dominic

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Dom was trying on a nice Ravenclaw colored scarf when he noticed someone else grab the same one from the stack. He didn't say anything or really focus on who it was, he just moved to stand behind them to glance in the mirror too. When he saw it was Kinsey, he was actually so surprised that he jumped. "Son of a-" he stopped himself, out of breath for a second.

He was a little... off right now, due to his recent interaction with Diana. He shook his head, "sorry, just wanted to look in the mirror," he said, too exhausted to be a bully just yet. It took a lot of energy.

@kinsey

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Kinsey wasn't really paying attention to the people around her. None of them had negative intentions, so she didn't feel the need. Besides, she was practicing focusing on her own intentions like Dan had suggested she do. She smiled as she looked at herself in the mirror, thinking she might actually get the scarf. She noticed someone standing behind her, but it took her a second to recognize him. Actually, she didn't pay attention until he jumped. She jumped in response, backing away when she recognized his voice. How did Dom get so close to her without her noticing?! Her mouth opened and Kinsey tried to speak, to say anything, but nothing would come out. 

He shook his head, saying he just wanted to look in the mirror and ... apologizing? Kinsey stared in surprise before nodding slowly. "Okay," she answered, trying to decide if she should try to slip away or if maybe she could stay there without making him feel the need to tease her. He didn't seem to be trying to do that yet and she didn't want to upset her. She settled for a compromise, turning away from him and messing with other scarfs at the shop. She liked the one she'd tried on, but she didn't want to make Dom mad by walking away just as soon as he arrived. Kinsey couldn't convince herself to say anything to him. 

@dominic

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She said 'okay', nodding. She didn't run away, and he just looked past her again to look at the scarf in the mirror. She turned away too, looking at other scarfs. He grimaced at his reflection, taking the scarf off. "Maybe you should try this one," he suggested, his voice almost void of emotion... kind of like he was. "It's got our colors, but there's this shiny string through, see?" he held it up to her. "Might look better on you, with your eye color and all," he realized he was being nice, and cleared his throat, then tossed the scarf to her and turned back to the other scarfs again, not watching if she caught it or not.

@kinsey
(aww dom got close to her without her noticing because his intentions weren't mean D: #emotional)
something like this

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Kinsey wasn't expecting Dom to talk to her again, and she definitely wasn't expecting him to suggest a scarf. She looked over at him with wide eyes, reaching for the scarf her offered. He was talking about how it had the Ravenclaw colors and saying ... it might look good on her? It might match her eyes? What was he doing? Kinsey caught the scarf, tearing her eyes away from him to look at it. "Th-thanks. I'll try it." She wasn't sure if not doing so would upset him or not, but Kinsey wasn't willing to risk it. She wrapped it around her neck, turning back to the mirror, since Dom wasn't in front of it anymore. He was right. It did look good on her. At least, she thought it did. "What d'you think?" Kinsey asked, almost forgetting who she was talking to. Her stomach was in knots, but she couldn't seem to help herself. 

@dominic

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She said she'd try it and he didn't respond. He let her do her thing, trying to find a more masculine scarf. Then she asked what he thought and he turned back, raising an eyebrow. He was right, it worked with her eyes. He nodded, "whatever." He drew his attention back to the scarves and grumbled angrily. "I need a new scarf but I just -" he stopped, folding his arms and taking a step back. "Pick one for me," he demanded. If he was with Cara or Diana he would have just asked, but he couldn't do that with Kinsey.

@kinsey

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Why was she asking him what he thought of the scarf? Kinsey was almost frozen in horror as she waited for him to tell her she looked terrible. Why would she openly seek this kind of a reaction with Dominic Dippet? Probably because she was worried that if she tried to leave right now she'd make him angry. That was the last thing she wanted. He surprised her by just saying "whatever" though. He looked away and Kinsey did the same, looking back to the scarves in front of her. 

The next thing she knew, he was talking about needing a new scarf and then demanding she pick one. Kinsey's eyes widened as she glanced at him to see if he was serious. He was. She looked over the scarves quickly, picking up one with deep blue and bronze colors. They were a little bit darker than normal, but maybe it would look okay. "This one?" she asked in a small voice, holding the scarf out to him. She should leave ... but she didn't want Dominic to follow her, or for him to get more angry at her. That would just make things worse.

@dominic

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He watched her impatiently as she looked through the scarves, but then settled on a rather nice dark one. He took it from her hands abruptly, and placed it around his neck, turning back to the mirror. He surveyed his reflection for the most part, but his eyes drifted to look at her through the reflection of the mirror too. She was definitely horrified at his being so strange, which was kind of fun in its own way. It kind of gave him the idea that he should switch off between being nice to her and being horrible to her, not that he thought he was being nice. He was just being indifferent because he wasn't feeling like himself. And there was something in her eyes, something that reminded him of Diana in that moment, that made him show mercy.

He nodded, tightening the scarf around his neck and then turning back to her. "Yeah, this one should work." He moved to the register and took out his coins. He gestured back to her while talking to the cashier. "I'll take this scarf and hers too," he offered. After he paid for both scarces he turned back to her and gave a short, curt nod. "Stay warm, or whatever." He realized he wasn't looking into her eyes anymore, not with the thoughts of Diana running through his head.

@kinsey

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Dom seemed to like the scarf, which was a good thing, wasn't it? She nodded, biting her lip when he said that it would work. There. At least she hadn't given him a reason to blow up at her, not that she normally gave him any sort of reason. She watched, surprised when he moved to the register and bought both of the scarves before nodding and telling her to stay warm. Her eyes were wide, but she swallowed and spoke, feeling like she needed to say something. "Thanks. I, uh, I've gotta go," she muttered before turning and hurrying away. She'd actually had a semi-decent interaction with Dom and she really just didn't want something to happen and for things to get worse again. It was better to run before that happened, wasn't it? At least he didn't follow her. She hurried back to the castle, deciding she needed some time to herself. Maybe she should read a book. 

--- the end ---

@dominic