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last online Apr 29, 2024 15:21:29 GMT -7
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Aug 26, 2020 22:44:41 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2020 22:44:41 GMT -7
October 2025 Her hands were healed, as Blair could clearly see when Maria held them up to show her. Maria joked that they were just as she—Blair, that was—remembered them, to which Blair laughed a little. She was glad that Maria had gotten it dealt with, though, fearing that they would think she wanted overtime, Maria wasn't in any hurry to stay there and reached for her hand.
Blair intertwined her fingers in with Maria's as she took her hand.
"I'm feeling lunch," Maria commented. "Fancy a bite? I found a great empanadas place."
"Empanadas?" Blair repeated, her expression brightening even more. London had a lot of things, but she hadn't found anywhere for decent empanadas; people seemed to like Cornish pasties and sausage rolls too much for that, which was disappointing for a Latinx Texan. "F**k, I don't think I've had empanadas since I moved over here. Let's do it."
@maria
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last online Apr 29, 2024 15:21:29 GMT -7
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Aug 26, 2020 23:12:08 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2020 23:12:08 GMT -7
October 2025 @blair
Call her fickle, but Maria didn't like to be predictable. Going back to her apartment with Blair would have been predictable. Plus, her lunch had sort of been spoiled by that whole foundation crap. To add to that... Maria didn't really cook, so going home when hungry wouldn't really accomplish anything.
Though, Maria was a little surprised by Blair's reaction. A good surprised. She grinned. "Probably won't be the same you remember, but it's about the closest you can in this country." Though, to be honest, Maria couldn't remember what they were like back in Brazil. It'd been a long time. Maria squeezed Blair's hand, and apparated again, this time to an alley a block down from the hole-in-the-wall shop. It was in muggle London. "So do any fancy tattoos today?" She asked as she led the way, still holding Blair's hand as they left the alley and started to walk down the street.
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last online Apr 29, 2024 15:21:29 GMT -7
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Aug 26, 2020 23:29:40 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2020 23:29:40 GMT -7
October 2025 "Probably won't be the same you remember, but it's about the closest you can in this country."
Regardless, Blair was game, and the two of them were off again to what was clearly an alley somewhere where they wouldn't be noticed by No-Majes—not Diagon Alley, for sure. Maria led her out of the alley, still holding her hand. "So do any fancy tattoos today?" she asked her.
"No, not really. I don't get to do too many of those," Blair admitted with an embarrassed laugh. Her artwork was decent—good enough to land her her apprenticeship—but she wasn't officially a tattoo artist yet; most of her time was spent observing Bobby and seeing how he did things, then trying for herself on pigskin and hoping that she didn't do terribly. All of the really detailed work was left to the professionals. "It wasn't super busy, though. There were a few last-minute cancellations, so that was whatever." It happened, but it was frustrating.
"And no wonder you're so flexible," Blair added, a slight teasing note in her tone, though she didn't have a problem with what Maria did for work. She wasn't exactly going to have to worry about bringing her home to mom and dad. "It's cool," though Blair wasn't sure if she'd be freaked out by it if she were to try her hand at it; she wasn't a fan of heights, and she definitely didn't have Maria's grace.
@maria
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last online Apr 29, 2024 15:21:29 GMT -7
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Aug 27, 2020 11:55:25 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2020 11:55:25 GMT -7
October 2025 @blair
As Blair spoke Maria was reminded that Blair had called herself and "apprentice". Right. She must still be learning. Maria hadn't really cared much for Blair's age (as long as she was legally an adult), though it reminded her that.. It was possible Blair was either the same age or even younger than her. "That's too bad." Maria couldn't help but think about how intimate tattooing was. Someone was trusting you to stab them hundreds upon hundreds of times, permanently altering their skin. Maria hadn't considered getting a tattoo herself, mostly because she was too fickle. She'd change her mind before she could pick something. But she did happen to love tattoos on other people...
Then, Blair commented about her flexibility. Maria's first reaction was wondering why that'd come up, then she realized Blair must have meant her work. Ah, right. What else would a pretty girl like her do for work at a night club? "It's one reason," she smirked as she spoke. Though, the comment about "it's cool", made Maria glance at the girl out of the corner of her eye. Maria wasn't looking for approval in her work. She didn't really care what Blair thought of it. "It pays the bills." That was an understatement. Practice, plus veela blood made you hard to ignore on the dance floor. "Plus, I love attention."
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last online Apr 29, 2024 15:21:29 GMT -7
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Aug 27, 2020 13:20:12 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2020 13:20:12 GMT -7
October 2025 Maria expressed that it was too bad that she didn't get to do any of the more interesting things involved with working at a tattoo parlor yet, but Blair had to keep looking forward to the day when she would be a full tattoo artist and able to create something really stunning, beyond the stick-and-poke tattoos she had done on herself before she ever had her apprenticeship. Someday, she would be a professional, though it felt like a long way off when some of her time was spent doing odd jobs—cleaning and administrative work and the like. It was part of paying her dues, in a way, but it wasn't exactly her favorite thing to do with her time.
"It pays the bills," Maria said of her work, though she was beautiful; she must have made good money on most nights. "Plus," she added, "I love attention."
Blair also couldn't imagine that Maria was hard to ignore, given how instantaneously she had been drawn to her. "Oh, really?" she teased her with a grin, squeezing Maria's hand a little tighter for just a moment. She was happy to give Maria her attention; it was almost effortless. "You love attention?"
@maria
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last online Apr 29, 2024 15:21:29 GMT -7
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Aug 27, 2020 14:10:08 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2020 14:10:08 GMT -7
October 2025 @blair
Maria felt... challenged by Blair's question, turning her own words against her. It was stupid, really. To feel riled up by something so small. But yet.. Maria couldn't help it. Couldn't help that surge of emotions. Didn't even try to stop it, actually. She was a very aggressive person. It was part of her "charm".
Maria stopped walking and tightened her grip on Blair's hand. She pulled Blair closer, their faces only a breath apart. "I demand attention," she whispered, her eyes intensely focused on Blair's own gaze.
Then, she pulled way. Still holding Blair's hand, but returning to a "respectable" distance and pulling her along to the hole-in-a-wall shop.
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last online Apr 29, 2024 15:21:29 GMT -7
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Aug 27, 2020 14:37:14 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2020 14:37:14 GMT -7
October 2025 "I demand attention," Maria corrected her, pulling her closer for only a moment. It wasn't long enough for a public display of affection, but it was hot. Maybe it was something of a threat, but Blair wanted to kiss her in the way that they had kissed in the back of Club Indigo when they had met, one of those kisses that was almost too intense to be real. It would be hard to focus on the empanadas, especially when Maria returned to a normal distance and took her to the empanada place itself.
Once they were there, Blair grabbed the door for Maria and held it open for her. She knew that they would have to be more careful around No-Majes, but at least London was fairly liberal. As long as they weren't too excessive, she didn't think that anyone would have a problem with their being affectionate. "After you."
@maria
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last online Apr 29, 2024 15:21:29 GMT -7
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Aug 27, 2020 16:21:25 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2020 16:21:25 GMT -7
October 2025 @blair
Maria loved and hated those brief, intense moments. Where she forced people into a situation, established her dominance, and then withdrew before anything happened. Like a hint, or a taste, of what might come down the road. She hated them though because she couldn't actually do much about it in the moment. Couldn't push it further. Maybe after empanadas she'd drag Blair into a dark alley somewhere and get rid of this frustration.
Blair grabbed the door, and who was Maria to say no? "Aw, that's sweet," she gushed, stepping inside the opened door, then pulled Blair inside after her. The place wasn't anything fancy, your typical "hole in the wall". You know, the sort of place must have great food because it was sketchy. That's what Maria had noticed. The sketchier the place, the better the food. "They've got a couple different kinds, but whatever you do, go with baked instead of fried." Empanadas could be baked or fried, but Maria had learned from experience that they were a lot better baked here.
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last online Apr 29, 2024 15:21:29 GMT -7
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Aug 27, 2020 16:40:39 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2020 16:40:39 GMT -7
October 2025 Blair was highly doubtful that the empanada place was known for its ambiance, though she didn't really care about that as Maria pulled her inside. It wasn't something that concerned her too much anyway, and Maria still had most of her focus. That was especially important when Maria was advising her on the food.
"They've got a couple different kinds," she advised her, "but whatever you do, go with baked instead of fried."
Somehow, Blair got the feeling that the fried empanadas might have been a bit greasy, and she would take Maria's word for it to go with the baked ones, which was her inclination regardless. She nodded her head. "And the beef's fine?" she checked. Hopefully, she couldn't go wrong with a standard beef empanada.
@maria
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last online Apr 29, 2024 15:21:29 GMT -7
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Sept 22, 2020 17:43:35 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2020 17:43:35 GMT -7
October 2025 @blair
There were any other customers in the shop, and the employee at the counter looked bored as he eyed the girls. It must not be an especially popular place, but managed to stay afloat. Probably because it had decent food. So those that did know about it kept coming. "From my experience, the beef is the best one they sell. There's a few "experimental" flavors. I don't recommend them. Also. I'm buying. So pick what you want." There wasn't must room for debate in Maria's tone. While she was more then happy to let people pay for her, it often depended on her mood. Currently she was feeling particularly aggressive and dominant (because of that stupid foundation). When she was in this sort of mood, she tried to force her dominance over everything, including money. Plus... She'd been the one to basically ask Blair out to lunch anyway.
"Two beef empanadas, baked. And whatever she wants," She told the employee at the register, motioning to Blair.
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last online Apr 29, 2024 15:21:29 GMT -7
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Sept 22, 2020 18:21:54 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2020 18:21:54 GMT -7
October 2025 "From my experience, the beef is the best one they sell," Maria explained to her. That was fair enough. "There's a few 'experimental' flavors. I don't recommend them. Also. I'm buying. So pick what you want."
Blair quirked an eyebrow at the mention of "experimental" flavors but nodded. Maria didn't seem to have given her the option to choose whether or not she was going to pay for her own food. She also didn't really feel bad about it, since the empanada place looked relatively inexpensive.
"Two beef empanadas, baked. And whatever she wants," Maria ordered from the employee who had been watching them converse and looked as though he would have preferred to be anywhere but there.
"Yeah. Same for me," Blair nodded to the employee. She figured that she would save the "experimental" flavors for another time. "Two beef empanadas, baked," she repeated. Why mess with a good thing?
@maria
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last online Apr 29, 2024 15:21:29 GMT -7
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Sept 22, 2020 18:33:00 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2020 18:33:00 GMT -7
October 2025 @blair
The employee, still looking bored, nodded and took down their order, then read out the price. Maria reached into her pocket, pulling out her wallet and handed over a credit card for the employee to run. Of course she had a credit card. Some of the best night clubs in London were non magical, so she kept a wealthy amount of her income in a muggle bank. He handed it back after running it, and she stuffed it back into the wallet then back into her pocket. "It'll be a few minutes."
Maria shrugged at his estimate. Of course it'd take a few minutes. She glanced around and spotted a table. This was when Maria finally let go of Blair's hand, moving to the table, and taking a seat. She rested an elbow on the table top, while her other hand twirled a lock of hair between her fingers. "So tell me about yourself, Blair." While not always the best idea with "flings", Maria had a few minutes to kill. So, why not?
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last online Apr 29, 2024 15:21:29 GMT -7
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Sept 22, 2020 19:06:48 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2020 19:06:48 GMT -7
October 2025 Blair wasn't surprised when the employee mentioned that it would take a few minutes for their empanadas to be ready once Maria had paid for them. What surprised her a little bit more was that Maria had paid for the empanadas with a credit card. The magical economy still ran on transactions with physical currency—coins, for the most part—so it was definitely different to see Maria pay for their food in such an obviously non-magical way. Then again, No-Majes had been using their phones to pay for things for years; Blair didn't think that the goblins at Gringotts would go for that, but who was she to say?
Maria let go of her hand and moved over to a table—not that any of them were really taken, per se. She sat down, and Blair followed close after, seating herself across from Maria. "So tell me about yourself, Blair," she urged, twirling her hair.
While she didn't know what there was to say about herself, really, Maria was so magnetic that it was hard not to oblige. "Um, I was one of the American transfer students," she began, intentionally leaving out Ilvermorny's name because of where they were. "I'm from Austin—Austin, Texas. Born and raised," aside from having spent most of her magical education in Massachusetts. "I'll be nineteen next month. I'm an only child. My parents got divorced when I was a kid, so that's fun, I guess?" It wasn't really "fun", but there wasn't much that she had to say about her mother and father. Neither had had other kids, though, so she guessed that she sort of appreciated that.
@maria
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last online Apr 29, 2024 15:21:29 GMT -7
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Sept 22, 2020 19:25:09 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2020 19:25:09 GMT -7
October 2025 @blair
Maria kept mindlessly twirling the lock of hair, her gaze relaxed though still tracking Blair. Like a cat that hadn't decided if it would attack yet. There was always something predatory in Maria's eyes, even when relaxed. She just looked at everything as a toy, something to be played with and used for her own amusement until she got bored. Blair was interesting enough, the proof evident since Maria was willing to have a second encounter with the girl.
Then, Blair was speaking, answering her question and sharing some details about her life. Maria had already figured the American transfer part, the accent was a give away. But the rest was all new information. Texas. What did she know about Texas. Hot. Cowboys. Sometimes hot cowboys. Being a month shy of nineteen made hera year younger then Maria, so at least her age guess hadn't been wrong. The divorced parents was interesting. "From what I've heard divorce is always "fun"," she answered, matching the slightly sarcastic tone. Not that Maria knew from personal experience. She intentionally didn't offer up any information about herself. No, you had to ask her for that sort of thing. "What house were you?" Hogwarts or Ilvermorny, it didn't matter.
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last online Apr 29, 2024 15:21:29 GMT -7
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Sept 22, 2020 21:15:15 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Sept 22, 2020 21:15:15 GMT -7
October 2025 "From what I've heard," Maria replied, "divorce is always 'fun'."
Blair laughed a little, in a derisive sort of way. Her parents were probably better off not being together, and they wouldn't have married in the first place if not for her. She also wasn't really close with either of them, mostly because they had taken the approach that she was grown and therefore needed to be responsible for herself. Killing the mood by elaborating upon her lack of a substantial relationship with either of her parents wasn't something that she really wanted to do, though, so she was grateful when Maria switched to the topic of what House she'd been in.
"Wampus," she answered. "Then Hufflepuff." Blair had been in Wampus for most of her schooling, though, so she identified more with it. "Where'd you go to school?" she wondered of Maria. "Here?"
@maria
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